






















Class _ 

Book A^9S7fS 
Cojp$htN“__V\o. 

COpV ^ 

CilPJfRIGHT DEPOSm 









h 



I 



THE HOUSE OF YOST 















COPYRIGHT, 1923, 
BY BONI & LIVERIGHT 






•) 




FEB 20'23' 

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 





THE HOUSE OF YOST 


CHAPTER I 

W HITSUNDAY turned out clear and warm, so 
nearly everyone could go. As early as eight 
o’clock parties of young people had set out walking; 
they came toward the same point from all directions, 
along the grass-bordered roads; and carriages followed 
one another over the hills in the northern part of 
Berks County, where a mile is equal to about a mile 
and a half in flatter parts of the world. By the time 
the bell began to ring there was a sociable crowd under 
the button-ball and horse-chestnut trees that shaded 
the church. 

Yost’s Church was built of bluish stone dug from 
the nearest hill: in the sunlight the carved white 
woodwork looked like ivory. Inside it was blue and 
white, with a wine-glass pulpit, quartered oak galleries 
and fluted pillars, all carved long ago by hands that 
caressed their work. The three doorways, now wide 
open, showed lovely views to east, west and north. 
According to custom the men should have been on 
one side of the aisle, the women on the other; but 
today people found places where they could, the pews 

[I] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


which seated four comfortably now holding five, or 
five and a child. It was inconvenient that the fashions 
of that year broadened instead of elongating the female 
form. All who had the slightest claim to sit with the 
choir did so, including some whom nobody ever sus¬ 
pected could sing. In the short pews on each side of 
the altar, rows of grandparents assembled; and the 
little children were allowed to walk about in the aisles. 
Everybody was there. 

Near the west door, in sight of the congregation, 
stood a marble monument with the figure of an angel. 
A garland of country roses drooped from its arms; 
roses covered the grave; and the grass for some dis¬ 
tance around was almost hidden under flowers. 

George Stroh, sitting at the organ, could see the 
angel. With his head bent and ^his hands hanging 
between his knees he was thinking, Many were his 
friends, and a few had his love; but he is my 
father.” 

He glanced at the elderly minister, whose face was 
bitter with conscious mediocrity. 

This poor old fellow merely occupies the pulpit. 
No wonder he objected to a memorial service. Father 
died seventeen years ago; but today he is here among 
his people like a living man.” 

When he looked across the church George saw one 
figure distinguished among all the crowd, the most 
imposing person there, his mother. As her position 
required, Christiana Stroh’s black silk and bonnet 
trimmed with violets were very handsome. Although 

[2] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


hundreds of her acquaintances had been observing her, 
she did not seem to know it; her expression was 
abstracted and gentle. 

“ I wonder whether Mother feels at all proud,” he 
thought. 

In a few minutes his new Whitsunday hymn would 
be sung for the first time. To have a hymn made 
especially for them gratified the music-loving Pennsyl¬ 
vania Germans; and they were also delighted with 
the new organ, their beloved pastor’s memorial, pre¬ 
sented by his son; so the congregational singing had 
been like cheering. After the responses the minister 
at last sat down, and the people composed themselves. 
Throats were cleared, legs were crossed, children were 
frowned at until they became petrified. A profound 
silence followed. 

George adjusted his cuffs above his broad, long- 
thumbed hands; a nervous smile drew up his lips, 
and made him look like a faun. Glancing masterfully 
over the choir, he saw them all expecting him to begin; 
and Mary Shell, the soprano, had taken her place 
beside him and was ready. He played the prelude; 
they began to sing. 

Praise ye the Lord! As praised Him of old in Jerusalem 
Those who in faith assembled with one accord. 

Then came the wind, and the flames of His spirit were over 
them. 

Now o’er your hearts comes His fatherly love. Praise 
the Lord! 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Flames he dispatched to the earth on that day as His 
messengers. 

Loosed were the tongues of His children, and great 
was the wonder. 

Greater the diurnal miracle wrought for us laborers: 

Sunshine and starlight and moonrise, the snow and the 
thunder. 

Father divine! Through Thy Heavens in splendor 
proceeding, 

Seedtime arrives and the harvests are ripe at Thy call: 
Hatred nor love from us trivial creatures impeding, 

Who, shouldst Thou cease to regard us, would be not 
at all. 

Praise ye the Lord! For with life and with light He 
endows us. 

Need hath He none of the worship of endable days. 
Transient and weak as we are, He with gratitude bows us, — 
Ultimate grace, — in that He permits us to praise. 

As the chords marched on, George felt that he was 
no more than a channel for the song. For a few 
moments he loved his artless lines. Before the vibra¬ 
tion of the last notes had ceased he heard approving 
whispers. Many in the congregation could not under¬ 
stand the English words, but the music came home to 
everyone. Two or three of the women who held Paul 
Stroh in grateful remembrance were weeping. 

To have all those people so near, with their broad 
smiles and their opinions, suddenly became very irk¬ 
some. The musician rose to his feet with an undis¬ 
guised sigh. He was tall when he stood up. After 
whispering to Mary Shell, who looked dubious, he 

[4] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


proceeded along the gallery and down the steps and 
out. Everybody watched, but he did not hurry, and 
he appeared so unconscious, so estimable, that he made 
it seem quite proper to leave the church at the beginning 
of the sermon. 

Out in the graveyard, songs of the brown thrasher 
and the oriole and the soft noise of the Northkill 
flowing over stones mingled with the hymns; and in 
every direction there was a hill, near or far. Peonies 
and fleur-de-lis were blooming white and purple, and 
strips of shade from the evergreens lay across the 
grass on a multitude of graves. Over old soldiers 
weather-faded flags waved; brown stone markers, 
worn smooth, told nothing except that some one had 
wanted some one to be remembered; friendless mounds 
were covered with myrtle, or drifts of mountain-pink 
now past its prime. 

George threw himself down under a red cedar and 
lay perfectly still. The place he had chosen for rest 
was in the midst of his family. 

On a marble monument surmounted by an urn was 
inscribed, 

GEORGE YOST 
Born 1781, Died 1851 

Christiana, the daughter of a second wife, was his 
only child. The Yost family was always small. 
Many acres had been added to the estate by him, and 
he had introduced the handsome Holstein cattle that 
were bred there. 


[5] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

I 

A granite slab with a weeping willow in bas-relief 
commemorated, 


GEORGE YOST 
Born 1752, Died 1826 

After plenty of adventures as a rifle-man in the 
Continental army, and three wounds, that George Yost 
had settled down to conserve; he had drained meadows, 
planted black walnut trees and locust trees, and built 
the stone bridge over the Northkill. Also he had had 
money-sense. The greater part of the principal now 
invested in Christiana’s name had been accumulated 
in his time. 

Red clover growing around a red sandstone marker 
touched the winged death’s-head half worn away, and 
stood higher than the name; 


JOHANN GEORG YOST 
Born 1726, Died 1803 

This was the pioneer. Not disheartened by the 
ocean or the wilderness, not dislodged by Indians 
raiding again and again across the mountains, he cleared 
his grant of land. His horses pulled wagons heaped 
with food and grain and clothing over the heavy roads 
to Washington’s troops. He needed a blacksmith’s 
shop and a shoemaker’s shop and a general store; and 
Middleport grew up around them. He built the church 
as a thank-offering. It was said that he left the 

[6] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


interesting world reluctantly, that he came back some¬ 
times, that he walked westward on a moonlight night, 
across the stone bridge and along the road to Yost’s, 
to see how things were going. Several young girls 
declared they had met him, and so did one old man 
who remembered him in life, sitting in the Yost pew, 
asleep. 

When his descendant, George Stroh, heard Mary 
Shell’s spirited step he did not stir except to raise his 
eyes. As she came across the grass, delicate shadows 
of the cedar branches moved over her. She was a 
little thing, and very trim, with yellow flowers in her 
black hat, and a black and white checked gown. 
Braids of light brown hair, pinned flat, quite covered 
the back of her head; her black brows were fine, her 
complexion white. 

Well? ” George said. 

Well? ” 

They did not use the dialect. When they were on 
good terms they spoke English because most of the 
neighbors could not understand it. 

George asked, Didn’t they like my hymn? ” 

“ If they hadn’t been in church they would have 
applauded.” 

Are they pleased with the organ, do you think? ” 

Proud.” 

It all went well, didn’t it? ” 

Since he said no more and contemplated the heavens, 
she sat down comfortably, watching him with amuse¬ 
ment out of the corner of her eye. His short, curly 

[7]_ 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


beard sparkled red and yellow in the sunlight; his 
variable irises had become a mild hazel; owing to the 
depth of the orbit the line from the temple to the 
corner of the mouth was remarkably fine. 

Abruptly, as if to get away from something in her 
own mind, she asked, “ Didn’t you want to hear the 
eulogy? ” 

They can’t tell me anything I don’t know about 
father. Do you remember my father? ” 

“ I can see him now, riding his cream-colored horse, 
in the midst of bright sunshine. He was stately.” 

“ Do you remember the day of the funeral? ” 

“ Yes. The bell tolled, and you came walking at 
the head of the procession with your mother. It 
rained a little. When the coffin stood open beside the 
grave he faced the sky. Oh, how the people mourned! 
He was young to die.” 

Thirty-nine.” 

In the last week or two I have heard so many 
stories about him: how wonderful he was with those 
who came to him in trouble, especially if their minds 
were not at rest. Like a saint he must have been.” 

“ That’s what I ought to live up to.” 

So that he need not feel obliged to talk while in this 
mood, she moved away after a moment across the grass 
path, gathered two or three yellow pansies, and read 
some of the gravestones. 

After a while she said, Our dear old Mr. Sohl! 
I am going to clean this marble as soon as I can. The 
little harp above his name is almost black. I hope he 

[8] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

has a gold one now, and can play as well as he wants 
to play.’’ 

“ He worked hard at our singing-lessons. Poor old 
Sohl! Do you remember his show piece, that funeral 
march? It was rumbled out over more than one jolly 
grandfather, who in life would have preferred, ‘ I lost 
my stocking at Lauterbach.’ ” 

“ George, don’t you regret that you stopped studying 
music? There was nothing to make you come back 
here.” 

It’s good enough for me at Yost’s. Hear that 
oven-bird calling, ^Teacher! ’” 

“ Look at the yellow-footed turtle. Exactly like 
the one you gave me that day at catechistical class. 
Do you remember? ” She walked back to him. It 
lived in our garden for years. When I came home 
from school to stay it was still living.” 

There was a long, friendly silence. 

I think it’s time to go.” 

Mary, your eyes are blue with a very dark blue 
ring around them.” 

What makes you say such a silly thing? ” 

“ There are many things I could say — to no one 
but you,” he answered, after rising to his feet. 

Why, what has come over you? ” His movement 
was suave, but she found she could not free her hand. 
“ Now I am going! ” 

I couldn’t get on without you at all.” 

Because she was thinking, “ All this means nothing,” 
she made him no reply. 


[9] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Will you go for a drive this afternoon? ” 

“ No, indeed I won’t.” 

With my new horses? You haven’t seen them. 
Bays with black points.” 

Oh, listen! The minister has stopped.” 

“ This afternoon? ” he repeated, scarcely above a 
whisper. 

Yes. Do hurry! ” — “Can it mean anything to 
him? ” she questioned herself. 

She did not know how to meet this change in their 
long, placid friendship; and it was changing at this 
very ihoment. Rapid though his look was, she clearly 
perceived that he appraised her. 

“ Not that! Not that! ” she thought; but the touch 
of his lips was swift. 

“ Run! ” she said, bravely laughing. 

She felt that before long she should want to cry; but 
now, watching him, she was very happy. He ran like 
a wind hound toward the church; he leaped the 
graves. 


CHAPTER II 


N ot Mary Shell but the Seven Stars had the 
advantage of George’s company. After such 
a morning he wanted a complete change. 

“ I can take her driving any time,” he thought. 
When he was ready to start out he found two little 
boys at play in his carriage, which had been left out¬ 
side the carriage-house. Dusty smears from their 
shoes were on the cushions; but he did not scold them 
when they stood before him wriggling and rubbing one 
leg with the other foot. He knew what they wanted, 
and offered them a ride. That made them happy. 

Don’t you wish we had some pretzels? ” one of 
them said, as they drove along. 

That’s a pretzel-tree.” 

He pointed with his whip. The width of a field 
away the branchless trunk of a dead cedar was stand¬ 
ing covered with vines; the loose tendrils looked as 
if pretzels might be expected of them. The little 
fellows had almost reached it when he started his horse, 
and shouted, I see the farmer coming with a gun.” 

Squealing and tumbling through the fence, they ran 
after him as fast as their legs could go. Both had 
torn their Sunday stockings. 

Green pretzels were hanging on the tree,” said the 
smaller boy, who was crying. 

[II] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ There might have been a few ripe ones on the 
ground, but we didn’t get any,” the other added, out 
of breath. 

“ At the store, pretzels are ripe all the year round,” 
George said; and he tossed a quarter into the road, 
and drove off laughing. 

He had to go a long way, for the recreation he 
wanted could not be found anywhere near Yost’s on a 
Sunday. But that did not matter to him; he was 
happy. The memorial service pleased him, although 
his few fond minutes of enthusiasm over his hymn were 
entirely past. He had spent several years away at 
school and several more studying music in Philadel¬ 
phia, and he possessed some standards. He knew 
that his own performance was nothing; still he 
thought often of the career he might have had. Now 
as always there was great satisfaction in the idea that 
he could afford to cast even all that aside. 

I had my free choice,” he said to himself. 

Momentarily he was filled with elation. Natural 
obstacles seemed to dwindle, every-day limitations to 
give way; he felt he could do anything. 

I gave up that for this. Oh, what rich country! ” 

White road and rolling fields, all the world that he 
could see, was overshadowed by the Blue Mountain. 
Its dark crest met the northern sky tranquilly. Along 
the side of the ridge, miles long, covered with sunlit 
forests, the curve of one slope melted into another, 
farther and still farther away. From among the 
clover came the soft calls of partridges. All the little 

[12] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


creeks were full. Here and there against green trees 
appeared a blossoming dogwood, misty white, casting 
lace-like shadows. 

Here no one goes hungry,” he thought. I would 
not leave this. No career would be worth it. And 
where is there another place like Yost’s? ” 

He took off his hat, felt the sunshine pouring on his 
head, and breathed deeply. At the moment the sweet 
air smelt of rushes. 

“ It’s time I thought of marrying. She needn’t be 
wealthy, we have plenty; but she must appear well, 
and be able to understand things. Strong too, to make 
a good mother; and handsome. Handsome! I want 
my wife to be like her—.” 

It was natural for him to think of his lady on this 
day so closely connected with the past. He thought 
of her often. There had been little in his life so far 
to make him change his ideals. One spring evening, 
while his father was living and strangers anxious to 
tell their troubles were often seen at Yost’s, he had 
come upon her, a tall young woman walking along the 
Northkill road. It was the first time in his life that 
he had noticed the beauty of a face. He had made 
advances to a boy and a lame rat-terrier following her, 
but the boy was stand-offish and the dog snapped; after 
which they all went toward the house, disappearing 
from him forever. 

No one said anything about them, and neither did 
I. She must have been lovely if a little fellow did 
not forget her; but it was not only her bright eyes and 

[13] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


hair. There on our road she appeared strange, dif¬ 
ferent from anyone I had ever seen; and warm— ! 
I wanted to go to her, and be near her. I suppose I 
was lonesome. She is growing old now, if she is not 
dead. My pretty lady! 

He gazed up at the brilliant sky and at the sun. 

“ I can almost see through. I’d like Father to hear 
me sing the hymn. I am fortunate.” 

Now approaching a well-known crossroad, he went 
dashing around the corner, and there was the Seven 
Stars. It looked gloomy, plastered dark yellow, and 
shaded by catalpas with sprawling leaves. Alone on 
the porch, with his slippers propped against a pillar, 
sat the landlord, Nicholas Siess, a bulky, silver-headed 
man in a white shirt and trousers. He always enunci¬ 
ated impressively, in a deep voice, no matter what he 
said. 

No, this weather is not good,” he replied to George. 
‘‘ It’s not seasonable, and it makes me sweat so. Go 
in. You will find plenty of company.” 

On days when George might be expected, Flossy, 
the daughter of the establishment, never strayed far 
from a window, and she was hovering in the hall now. 
Her red cheeks were tough as rubber, but she had a 
heart soft as a custard. Having passed her, he went 
on toward the bar-room doorway, meeting odors of 
whiskey and beer which had been growing stronger for 
generations. All the tones of the smoky room were 
brown. Some assault had splintered one doorframe. 
Above the battered wainscoting hung an old Berks 

[14] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


County map and two calendars with rosy pictures of 
young ladies. About twenty young men in Sunday 
clothes sat around smoking, and the soft scrape of 
cards was continuous, also the crack of peanut shells, 
and a lazy voice telling a story. In the darkest corner 
a spot of white lay asleep on a bench and snorted; it 
was old Billy Hinkle in his weekly clean linen. The 
bar, with a fresh decoration of red, fringed napkins 
folded in fancy shapes and stuck in tumblers, remained 
locked for Sunday. 

George stood in the doorway, looking very pros¬ 
perous in his handsome clothes, and exchanged saluta¬ 
tions with the whole room. Everyone appeared glad 
to see him. He recognized two friends playing cards 
in a corner. 

“ Hello, Joe,” he said, amicably. “ How goes it, 
Ambrose? ” 

The stocky man, whose shoulders seemed about to 
split his tight coat, looked up, flushing crimson. All 
of a sudden he wanted to tell George Stroh how it 
was going, with a fretful wife and more than enough 
unattractive little children. Instead he spoke of crop 
prospects, and they discussed the weather, with which 
they were intimate. A pause followed. Then Ambrose 
slapped his hand, with the cards in it, on the table. 

Can^t a man get sick of the sound of a voice? ” he 
exclaimed, as if he were really sick with disgust and 
despondency. 

George waited gravely, as did the third young fellow. 
He had a mother to support who was a shrew. When 

L15] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


it became apparent that Ambrose would not relieve his 
mind farther, a suggestion was made by a mere turn 
of George’s eye. There were possibilities, for those 
who knew of them, at the Seven Stars on a Sunday. 
Presently Ambrose strolled out; and Joe would have 
followed, but George detained him, and persisted in 
reading a handbill announcing the raffle of a steer, 
which had been an event of the preceding summer. 
While they were standing side by side he murmured, 
“ Is it any better? ” 

Well, you see I’m here.” Joe smiled in a down¬ 
cast fashion, pleased to be asked. “ Mother chased 
me out of the house this morning. I went back though. 
She is old,” he added, protectively. 

George swore to himself. “ I’m lucky.” 

He followed Joe as if casually. Ambrose had already 
made port. In a small room with one narrow window 
high in the wall, bottles were arranged, barrels, every 
kind of container; and a cigar-box with money in it 
was conspicuous on a very little shelf. There among 
the kegs some time passed pleasurably for the visitors. 
It was an unusually loud laugh which interrupted them. 
George did the proper thing by the cigar-box, and they 
hurried back. 

A pink and white, perfumed youth, springlike as a 
tulip, stood alone in the middle of the bar-room, 
smiling uncertainly. All diversions had ceased; not 
even a peanut cracked; everybody was observing. 

“ Those are gay clothes,” said an anxious voice. 

“ Notice the figure. He couldn’t take a full breath.” 

[i6] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Sissy! 

‘‘ Valentine, come, you mustn’t wear your hat on 
the back of your neck, no matter how it hurts that 
curly bang.” 

You are all jealous. That’s what it is, — 
jealous,” the boy retorted, lighting a cigarette. 

‘‘ Gentlemen, we must sympathize with those who 
suffer. Our young fellow-citizen got the mitten from 
Ellie in spite of all this.” 

Valentine! After all your trouble! ” 

“ You won’t be long without a girl, a dressy fellow 
like you.” 

“We’ll all help you pick one. Graul’s Edna! She 
has one good eye.” 

The boy blushed. His smile was fixed, but he began 
to swallow hard. 

“ I never thought Ellie quite your style, Val,” George 
said loudly, also lighting a cigarette. 

The victim turned on the crowd. “Ah! You 
fellows don’t know what style is. Bet I get a hand¬ 
somer girl than any of you.” 

He asserted himself until everyone was tired of him; 
then he went sidling over to George. “Aren’t these 
socks nice? ” he whispered. 

“ Purple is a very pretty color.” 

“ I think this white rose perfume has a rich smell.” 

“ You are quite right.” 

George sauntered out, and came back with the 
expression of a faun seeking a plaything. Old Billy 
Hinkle, his face crumpled against one elbow, still lay 

[ 17 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


sound asleep on his bench. For poor Billy, always 
thirsty, without any privileges at the Seven Stars, 
Sunday was a hard day. Noiselessly, his eyelids half 
closed, George took possession of a fishing-rod which 
had been forgotten in a corner. One man after another 
noticed his manoeuvers; in silence, cards ceasing to 
shuffle, the company watched the fishing. At the first 
prick Billy only twitched and muttered; the second 
puncture made him flap both hands, and he looked 
very indignant without opening his eyes. Working 
with concentration, George succeeded in starting blood 
in one clammy cheek. Then Billy, a hanger-on for 
many years, shot up. 

“ Where is that hornet? ’’ 

All the faces in the ring around him jeered, the 
dangling hook insulted him. You — you — he 
screamed, unable to think of the right words, as he 
leaped at his tormentor. The crowd gave voice to 
their happy surprise; and in less than one minute the 
landlord made a fine, impressive, dramatic entrance. 
Without comment he grasped Billy by his shirt, 
removed him to the porch, placed him in a chair, and 
let himself down in his own chair with a cynical sigh. 
Billy immediately started back. 

Here, here! Not into my bar-room! I will have 
no fighting on my premises.’’ 

George Stroh insulted me. I want satisfaction. 
He made me a fool before the whole crowd.” 

By scratching you a little? Wipe your cheek. 
Satisfaction! Didn’t he hold you with one hand? Let 

[i8] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


the young rooster crow. I give him a couple of years.” 

WTiat? ” 

He has it in him to be as great a butt as that boy 
with the clothes, and in other ways to equal you,” 
Nicholas explained, suavely. 

Both looked up at George himself, very fresh and 
rosy, surveying them from the doorway. 

Did I hurt you, Billy? ” he asked. Well this 
will pay the damage. Spend it tomorrow.” 

This time it was a silver dollar that he threw down; 
they heard him, as he went in, laughing at the out¬ 
sider. The coin rolled into the road. Billy hesitated, 
then he scrambled down and picked it out of the dust. 

I thought George Stroh had insulted you,” 
Nicholas said, and he too went in. 

Lively conversation was going on, jokes and a give- 
and-take that was meant to be shocking; the others 
strove to keep up with George. He was now per¬ 
fectly approachable, leaning against the bar and laugh¬ 
ing: what he found to say was more and more uncon¬ 
ventional. The watchful Joe looked worried, and 
presently raised his voice. 

“ What grand music you gave us this morning! ” 

Think so? ” George answered, flattered at once. 

“ It was fine,” the beautified boy put in, with a 
privileged air. 

“ I don’t get time to go to church, but my daughter 
told me how your singing was admired,” Nicholas said. 

Come, we’d like to hear the ^ame.” 

That’s not the only song I know.” 

[ 19 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Better give us your hymn. That’s the one we 
want.” To himself Nicholas added, “ If he is not too 
drunk to remember that he sang his precious hymn 
here he will feel as if he had been rolled in the mud.” 
No. I made this one too. You’ll like it.” 
George struck a graceful attitude. His coloring was 
very bright; among the brown shadows he appeared 
resplendent; and his merry face made the audience 
smile as he dashed into his song. 

When the round white moon walks over the hill 
There’s another white face comes peering up; 

And he sniffs fresh air, and he stares his fill, 

And he rises from the grave like steam from a cup. 
Oh, Grandfather Yost is a jolly old ghost. 

And in death he is far less dead than most. 

He is tired of his idleness down in the ground; 

He wants to get back where he used to be so busy; 
So he glides down the road, looking, all around. 

Greeting Annie in the moonlight, and Katie and 
Lizzie. 

Oh, Grandfather Yost is a jolly old ghost. 

And in death he is far less dead than most. 

He knows what’s what in lashes and in curls. 

But he’s always disappointed, for he can’t get near 
them 

How can he court these pretty, pretty girls? 

When they see him they shriek so the town can 
hear them. 

Oh, Grandfather Yost is a jolly old ghost. 

And in death he is far less dead than most. 


[20] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Although here, as at the church, three quarters of 
the audience could not understand the English words, 
the young men felt the simple, rapid, joyous music in 
their blood; they smiled, and beat time. 

Sing! Sing the chorus!” George called. And 
some of them tried whistling the air. When he 
suddenly let out his ringing baritone on a high note, 
then non-legato on a low one, the whole crowd joined 
with a wordless shout that carried far across the fields. 
Valentine sang lustily, Joe added his mild tenor, 
Ambrose began to look cheerful as he followed the rest, 
and the landlord boomed in the bass; even Billy the 
exile sang outside a window. They were all hot and 
hilarious together. Above the chorus of common 
voices the one fine voice went on, surmounting their 
volume as the seabird moves floating with the wave. 
Flossy in the parlor shed tears of pride. 

Sing another, George! ” 

“ All right. This is a good one.” 

After a minute’s pause and a little humming he 
began again, changing to a velvety vocal quality and 
a restless tune. 

The Lord made Eve from Adam’s side, 

And that’s the place for her. 

He made a girl for every man. 

And who can help him as she can? 

But God has a mind to joke sometimes. 

Then Adam gives his blood and hide 
Without even ‘ Thank you, sir! ’ 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


To be alone is worst of all, 

And I shall soon be old. 

On a single pillow I lay my head, 

And I dream of sons in a lonesome bed. 

God put my girl where I can’t find her! 

' Oh, how my summer wears to fall 
And leaves me in the cold! 

This time nobody tried to sing, the applause sounded 
chastened, they felt melancholy; more than one heart 
in the crowd began to yearn, and this yearning was as 
genuine as the most respectable of its emotions, only 
without any particular object. “ See what I can do 
with them! ” thought the proud soloist, as he dis¬ 
appeared with hardly any precautions. He drew 
suspicious looks a little later, being red and unsteady; 
and the landlord came over to him, and said, quietly, 

It’s time for you to go.” 

I’ll go with him,” Joe whispered. 

George followed unwillingly into the hall; then he 
made a dash, and Joe caught up with him in the little 
room among the kegs. 

‘‘ This is not a good place for you. Come now.” 

“ Where? ” 

You know where.” 

“ I won’t. I am all right.” 

“ Oh, yes, come with me a while. You are tired 
and sleepy.” 

Immediately George felt very tired and sleepy. 

“ Come on. I want to tell you something. Oh, for 
Heaven’s sake don’t sing now! ” 

[ 22 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Miss Siess, who had been waiting for this, rushed 
out of the parlor to assist; and all the way upstairs 
George kept repeating what a nice girl Flossy was. 
Once there, he became interested in a gay thing on the 
bed. It was Flossy’s new hat, and it belonged in the 
closet in a box, but she had been in a hurry. He 
seemed to admire it, and she gazed at him and was 
pleased. When he opened his pocket-knife and began 
without any haste to cut off all the large pink roses as 
if it were a bush she made a sound that was almost 
a yelp; then she stood petrified because it was he who 
was doing it. She even took a rose when he gave 
her one, scattering the rest over the floor. 

“ Oh, my hat! ” she thought, as she walked down¬ 
stairs. “ But indeed he is such a man that everything 
he does becomes him.” 

In ten minutes George was smiling in his sleep. 
Joe locked the door, pocketed the key, and sat down; 
there he remained, faithfully. His own lot was not 
interesting to him; he got what he could from the 
fortunes of others. As the afternoon went by, the 
changes in the light were not dissimilar to the changes 
in his pleasant, unexpectant eyes. 

There was much muttering and tossing in the bed 
before a voice remarked, “ Oh, this is where I am.” 

“ And now it is time for you to be elsewhere. Come, 
I’ll help you. Don’t make such a noise.” 

What do you think I am, a baby? I’m cold.” 

George, you absolutely must keep quiet and go 
peaceably.” 


[23] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Let’s have a drink! ” 

“ One but no more.” 

George took with him all of Flossy’s roses. Joe 
succeeded in getting him downstairs cautiously, but he 
then headed for the little room and would not hear 
of leaving it until he was again in a state of felicity. 

“ Have you anything to drink about you, I wonder? ” 
Joe said, feeling his charge’s pockets. So? That’s 
a big flask. What were you going to do with a revolver? 
Oh, I see I must take you home. Come on. Your 
team is around at the side gate. George, you must 
not sing! ” 

I need no child’s-nurse,” George declared with 
great dignity. 

He got into the buggy first, with his roses; and as Joe 
was about to step in after him he cut the horse with the 
whip. 

‘‘Aha! Aha! ” he shouted, looking back at his 
chaperon standing anxiously in the road. “ Got ahead 
of you that time! Now I um off! ” 




[24] 


CHAPTER III 


I WON’T go home. I’ll turn down every crossroad 
I see.” 

Guided by this principle alone, the representative of 
the Yosts drove on and on, happy as a lark. He 
admired the landscape, gaily saluted all who passed, 
and sang. A poem which he tried to make about the 
moon did not go very well because he could not 
remember the words long enough to find rhymes for 
them; so he aimed carefully at the baffling white face 
and shot at it as fast as he could pull the trigger. 

When the terrified horse had slowed down of him¬ 
self it occurred to the young man, but not as a cause 
for anxiety, that he did not know where he was. 
‘‘What a lonely place! ” 

The hills, each with intense darkness at its foot, 
crowded the crooked road; on the far side of the ruts 
and by every rock lay patches of inky black; streaming 
moonlight made the shadowy bushes and the wild vines 
draping the fences appear tropically rich. Over the 
gray fields hung clouds of mist from an invisible 
stream, and the water had a delicate sound. The air 
was full of odors of fresh plants and soil warmed by 
the sun, the smell of the land at night. So amenable 
by day, the earth had turned reticent, leading a 

[25] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


life of its own. A whitish glow covered the sky: 
masses of cloud, drifting and meeting, formed between 
their thick, illumined edges a silver cave; and in its 
depths, against a turquoise background, floated the 
moon. 

Where in the world am I? This is not the 
Northkill.’’ 

It was a furtive stream which spread out into a 
marsh roaring with frogs. They were all struck dumb 
by the clatter when George crossed the bridge, and he 
prompted them: 

“ More rum! More rum! ” 

Beyond a sharp turn to the left the road began to 
ascend a ravine so narrow that there was little more 
than room for the rivulet between the converging hills. 
The steep ridge on the west was covered with woods; 
among the foliage of oak and chestnut, which received 
a soft silver bloom from the moonlight, appeared many 
black evergreens. On the broadbacked eastern hill a 
number of fields had been cleared; and there stood 
one poor little house surrounded by old apple-trees, a 
wild and solitary habitation. As the wanderer came 
near a door closed; it was an arresting sound. 

The horse stopped, his sides heaving, while George 
studied the place. It was not quite all asleep; an 
immense tiger-cat sprang to the top of the fence as if 
it had been disturbed. He watched to see what had 
fled from him; it seemed a long time before a figure 
became visible at one of the dark, curtainless windows. 
The fugitive had turned and fixed eyes upon him; he 

[26] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


had to give chase. He did not waste a moment; 
bracing one hand on the windowsill, he went in feet 
first, through sash and panes, with a wild, wonderful 
smash. 

“ Well, how have you been? ” he inquired. 

Although her breathing showed that she was alarmed, 
the young woman made no demonstrations. She 
looked at him carefully. By the moonlight she could 
see what he looked like, and that he was bleeding from 
two or three cuts. Then she began to laugh. 

Now things are going nicely,’^ he remarked. 

He waited for her to speak, but she did not; and she 
stopped laughing. 

I drove miles, many miles, on purpose to make your 
acquaintance. Won’t you please say something to 
me? ” 

Still she said nothing. 

“ I hope I didn’t frighten you. I shall wait a 
moment. I shall wait here.” 

He left it all to her. As she did not move, he 
remained in his attitude of profound homage until he 
became quite hopeless. 

“ Don’t disturb yourself, Miss — Miss — ? ” 

The name was not supplied. 

Goodnight,” he said, forgivingly. 

Steps sounded on the stairs, the door opened, and 
a man came in, unmistakably the owner of the place. 
After looking at George and at the shattered window 
he spoke. 

Get out! ” 


[27] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ I only spoke to the young lady/^ 

“ Is that all? ” 

“ I was driving along, and I saw her through that 
window. George Stroh is my name. I have my team 
outside,” he added, as if that were a great point in his 
favor. 

“ Well, now go home.” The speaker went close to 
George, and observed him. You come with me.” 

No help, not a word, was offered by the charmer 
listening in the corner. George tried his best to linger, 
but could not even avoid going out first. Although he 
found himself sitting idle behind his own horse, the 
reins in the other’s man’s hands, it all seemed right, 
and after offering his flask politely and using it satis¬ 
factorily he slept on the way back to Yost’s. Safely 
there, he carried upstairs Flossy’s roses, every one of 
which he had insisted on collecting from the floor of 
the carriage. It did occur to him, when he heard the 
stranger walk away along the road, that a bed might 
have been offered to a man so far from home at that 
time of night; but it was not a disturbing thought. He 
emptied the'flask, and lay down and slept for hours 
and hours his healthy, innocent sleep. In the morning, 
when he saw them all over the floor, he could not 
imagine where he got all those cotton roses. 


[28] 


CHAPTER IV 


W HEN George was disposed of, Daniel Hain 
walked over to Middleport. On the way he 
apologized to himself several times for his foolishness. 
Stroh might have got badly hurt if he had driven home 
alone, being so drunk, the young loafer. Daniel knew 
where to go; one of the three or four friends he had 
was Louisa Fry, who owned the Crossed Keys. After 
a few hours’ sleep there he set out for home about the 
time the birds began to chirp; and he took all possible 
short cuts and urged his borrowed horse. There was 
much to be done that day at Mount Misery. 

Daniel appeared well on horseback; he was a power¬ 
fully built man whose presence was as reassuring as a 
shepherd dog’s. He watched the mountains becoming 
visible through the morning twilight as if they were 
companions returning to him. Before he had gone half 
way, the east blushed and light began to stream from 
the whole sky; for a few moments rose-colored clouds 
with burnished edges floated before a background of 
pearl, pure and cold. Then his dark eyes became 
almost ecstatic. Over the last hill. Mount Misery, so 
called because it was such a hopeless place to farm, the 
horse had to pick his way along a stony footpath. Few 
trees grew there; chewinks were leaping among the old 

[29] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


fallen leaves, and patches of sweetfern and berrybushes 
covered with frail blossoms sheltered the catbird and 
the rabbit. From the top of the hill Daniel surveyed 
his acres and all that belonged to him, and saw very 
little romance in it: there was not much by daylight. 
This was not peaceful country hereabouts, it was all 
gaunt and rough with dead timber and rocks. Every 
stone in the fences had been picked from the ground, 
and out of the thin soil on the slopes the seed was 
often washed by the rains. A row of red spots which 
were blossoming geraniums appeared extremely bright 
against his weather-beaten gray house. Beyond it were 
the road and the stream, then the ridge with the dark 
woods; the pointed tops of young cedars along the 
summit looked like wolves’ ears cocked. 

As he rode down, the girl who had been at the 
window the night before sprang apprehensively from 
the grass in a corner of the dooryard. Her little face 
was wet with May dew; at the moment there was a 
fire-flash visible in the broad space between her liquid 
eyes; the sweep of her eyebrows suggested a bird’s 
outspread wings. An air she had, the transitory air 
of a gentle wild creature, was alluring: it would have 
suited her to dance like a Maenad over the open hills, 
with her chestnut locks streaming. 

Daniel felt as he did when she was a little thing in 
a faded red cotton dress and not much else, coming 
to him trustfully to button her up. He could not scold 
her, she was so sweet. The window was broken. 
Well, let it be. 


[30] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


All he said was, “ Eva, where’s Sylvester? ” 

At the barn.” 

“ Tell him to look after this horse.” 

She led the horse away herself. Her father observed 
that while Sylvester did double duty with the stock 
and Helen bent over the stove Eva was out in the sun¬ 
shine, washing her freckles in May dew; but when 
she did get at the work it would fly. He himself went 
to put on working clothes. The yard remained to the 
tiger-cat, on the fence with his big, ringed tail curled 
around his thick legs, his savage eyes cynically con¬ 
templating space, — a kind of garden genie. 

In the kitchen, an inconvenient place full of make¬ 
shifts, with hardly a good feature except plenty of 
light, the four members of the Hain family gathered 
and sat down. Breakfast was put on the table by 
Helen, a neat young person, very pretty in a grave 
way. Sylvester, the eldest, maintained one of his 
authoritative silences. The work waited. As soon as 
he had eaten he hastened out to get at it, but when he 
passed the shattered window, such a complete wreck 
stopped him short. He questioned his father with a 
look, and was cautioned with another. Not until they 
were moving along in the potato-field, hoeing up the 
weeds, did Sylvester speak. 

Well? ” 

“ The window was broken last night,” answered 
Daniel, who would have been glad to conceal the whole 
thing. 

“ How? ” 

[31 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


‘‘ I was surprised that the crash didn’t' wake you. 
A man jumped through it.” 

At this exciting reply Sylvester went so far as to 
slow down his hoeing. 

Who? ” 

George Stroh.” 

Why? ” 

He saw Eva.” 

To the brief account which followed the elder 
brother listened with great interest. Then, not being 
requested to give an opinion, he saved his words; he 
never wasted anything. 

“ Well? ” Daniel said. 

“ I wish it had been Helen, though Eva is a beauty 
too, and two years younger.” 

What do you know against Stroh? ” 

‘‘ Not so much. I never saw him in my life. Of 
course I have heard some talk.” 

We need not make up our minds that anything will 
happen, of whatever sort.” 

Eva is a splendid worker. I don’t see how we 
could keep the place going without her,” said Sylvester, 
taking a great deal for granted all of a sudden. 

We must deal with it as it comes. To be careful 
of her is the main thing.” 

They went on with their work, advancing slowly 
along the row. Daniel felt as if there had been a 
foreclosure unexpectedly. ^ 

He was here at Mount Misery because the momen¬ 
tous decisions of his youth had been made to suit the 

[32] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

convenience of other people. His father never believed 
that Dan lost anything by staying on the land; his two 
brothers-in-law thought that Dan had rather a good 
thing all that time when he was only paying his 
sisters’ interest on their shares of the estate while he 
held on to the whole place. At twenty he had married. 
No matter how anxiously he questioned himself whether 
he might do better in any way for his children, he could 
never wish that they had their mother back. The 
cares of the present, the years when the barest neces¬ 
sities were so hard to get that they almost became 
ideals, — all seemed bearable in comparison with that 
long-drawn-out defeat. A double row of white silk 
pompons which his wife would have liked had been 
added at the last moment to her shroud, because he 
was ashamed of having given a thought to the cost of 
it. Afterwards he and the children took hold of the 
crippled establishment themselves. Now they were in 
the position of survivors of a shipwreck, having their 
hands and the ground they stood on, not much else 
except his air-castle. It was wonderful that he had 
any visions left; those he had were not fervently 
gorgeous but fervently definite. Whenever he looked 
at his place he saw mentally what he would do to 
improve it as fast as he made the money — the 
modern machines, the new buildings, the fine horses 
and cattle. The old name of Mount Misery should 
not be changed, it should be a joke. A dignified home 
for his children, a place which would cause them to 
be well regarded — he would work for that until he 

[33] 


N 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

dropped. What would be to the advantage of other 
people inspired him yet. 

Having a good deal of this in mind, he reflected, 
deliberately, It might not have been a bad thing, 
provided I could satisfy myself on some points — if 
after a few years, when perhaps my girls can begin to 
appear as I want to see them — if then George Stroh 
had come, sober, by daylight, to my front door. I 
hope I’ll have a new front door by that time. But it 
didn’t happen in that way.” 

He grinned a little to himself, and was about to say 
something optimistic about utilizing their waterpower, 
when Sylvester, who had been faithfully hoeing, spoke. 

“ Father, you know I would always take the best 
care I could of the girls.” 

What? I don’t expect it to come to that,” Daniel 
answered, sharply. “ Has Sylvester no confidence in 
me? ” he thought; but in a moment he went on, in a 
warmer tone than usual, You will soon be of age; 
and you know what a man’s wishes are. I would not 
restrain any of you if you found the right companion.” 

I am not thinking of anything of that kind. I 
have not time,” Sylvester said, repelled by this allusion 
to his secret hopes. He went on, to himself, “ Father 
believes he could do without me easily. Where would 
he find another man to work as hard as I do, cultivating 
this damned stone-pile? If I started for myself it 
wouldn’t take me long to get my little place in Florida, 
and potato-fields worth having. Then no more cold 
winters.” 


[34] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


He worked faster. His hands, black with stains 
that would not come off, were distorted; one finger had 
been crushed by a harrow. Sometimes when a breeze 
came he stood up to rest, straightening his heavy 
shoulders, and gazing at the hills. 

On the wild ground above the field some azalea- 
bushes made great splashes of hot rosecolor; a meadow¬ 
lark kept singing lonely little songs; far up in the sky 
a buzzard sailed and sailed. 

Where is there a more beautiful spot? ” Daniel 
thought. “ But there will be no cash coming in until 
I sell the hay. What a job it is to run a farm, even 
a two-horse farm like this. It seems that part of each 
crop must be a loss; the rain falls on the cut hay, and 
then there is none for the corn. God! Don’t make 
my children work as hard as I do. Don’t let my son 
be a man like me; give my daughters a little easier 
time. Enable me to do for them what I want to do: 
it’s not so much. And for Christ’s sake don’t leave 
me sitting around their houses when I am old.” * 
There seemed to be hundreds of hours in this day. 
As the men labored on and on they saw how the weeds 
and the pests were going on too, with great energy and 
vitality. Afternoon was like morning except that the 
sunshine came from a different angle and the dew was 
dry; they were marooned by their work. When at 
last the time to leave off had come and they tramped 
home with their hoes over their shoulders, they did not 
find repose. The calf was lost. It was a little calf, 
and now seemed their most valuable possession. At 

[35] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


once Daniel, Sylvester and Eva began to walk over the 
farm and adjacent territory and over it again. The 
outcries of the cow, while they hurried through their 
supper made them all nervous; and they kept on 
walking until every corner had been searched, and 
there remained no reason to look in one place rather 
than in another. 

Let the cow find it,” said Eva, inspired. “ Let the 
poor thing out. She will know where to go.” 

With lighted lanterns the whole family streamed out 
of the house and followed the frantic cow. She made 
for the top of the hill, breaking through the brush and 
calling. When they came up with/her among the 
laurel-bushes she was licking the cal/i, and it was fast 
asleep after having made so much trouble. 

As they all went slowly winding down again through 
the pasture, with the lanterns flickering around the 
animals, Helen drew Eva away from the men to tell a 
piece of news which she had heard from a paisser-by 
in the afternoon. 

Eva joyfully whispered back, V\\ ask Father.” 

He will say no.” 

Why? We work hard, and during hay time and 
harvest-time we shall work much harder.” 

Father never lets us do anything,” was Helenas 
calm reply. 

“ Do you want to spend all your days in this muddy 
hole? ” 

I don’t want to spend one more day in it. I want 
to live where there are pavements, and go to school. 

[36] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


But what difference does that make? We are here. 
Ask Father if you think it is worth while. I forgot all 
about it until now, we have been so busy.’^ 

There was still work to do, the stock to be fed and 
watered. Another hour passed in dirt and dust; then 
the day really reached an end, and Daniel walked out 
on the porch and lighted his pipe. Between him and 
the dark ridge opposite the air sparkled with fireflies. 
Night with its quiet was coming, as it had come to 
those who worked with the soil throughout all genera¬ 
tions ; he listened to its unchanging sounds — whispers 
and sighs, as if the earth which could not make itself 
heard by day now found many unobtrusive voices. He 
smoked and thought, content when he thought of his 
wife. That was over. 

So quietly that she seemed to drift through the dusk, 
Eva placed herself on the porch at his feet, folded her 
active hands, and waited a while for what he might 
have to say. Her face was visible to him as a small 
white blur. 

He regarded her with pride and anxiety, and said to 
himself, I’ll not speak of George Stroh at ail. It is 
peaceful now.” 

Father,” she asked, in her gentlest voice, “ May I 
go to Middleport next Saturday? ” 

Middleport! Near where Stroh lives!” Daniel 
thought, instantly, and he did not answer for a while. 
Something was bound to happen; this was the begin¬ 
ning; what it was and how bad he would soon find out 
“ Why do you want to go there? ” he inquired. 

[37] 


now. 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


It’s Battalion Day. It will be such a celebration 
as they have never had, a parade with floats, and 
decorations on the houses, and bands, and a big dance 
at the Crossed Keys. Helen heard about it. She 
doesn’t care for it; she offered to do the work.” 

“ No,” Daniel said, promptly. “ I couldn’t have 
5^u in that crowd, standing in the street among a lot 
of fellows who are more than half drunk. I am 
responsible for you,” he added, with tenderness. 

“ It can’t be such a bad crowd. Father. Nice people 
go.” Waiting for him to say something, she felt more 
and more alienated. With difficult gentleness she 
suggested, If you don’t want me to stay for the dance 
may I go long enough to see the parade? Please let 
me,” she entreated, like a child. 

He pitied her. To let her spend the day at the 
Crossed Keys occurred to him; but the Crossed Keys 
would be headquarters for all that went on, Stroh 
would most certainly be there, and Eva had never seen 
Louisa Fry. 

^^We have no friends you could visit in Middle- 
port,” he said, half to himself. 

Although she had been thinking the same thing, to 
have it stated so plainly brought a lump into her throat. 

No. We have no friends,” she agreed, gentle as 
an echo; but she was thinking, with fury, “ Of course 
not! We are not fit to be seen. Everybody knows 
how poor we are. It is a disgrace to be so poor. I 
am ashamed of him because he can’t provide for us as 
other fathers do.” 


[38] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


With the cadence of her last words in his ear he 
thought of taking her to Middleport himself, and of 
telling Sylvester to take her. 

“ No,” he decided. “ Stroh was very drunk. There 
is hope that he has forgotten the whole thing. He 
shall not see her in that Battalion Day crov/d,” 

Even while Daniel acted on it he avoided facing 
what was in his mind. “ George Stroh — while I am 
in my present circumstances — would not seek my 
daughter to marry her.” That, with all it implied in 
regard to Eva, he could not bear to think of. 

He wanted to deal with her as delicately as he could, 
to spare her all he could. Although he hated to admit 
that he was pressed for money, and feared to mention 
any hopes whatever because so many of them had gone 
to nothing, he determined to do both. This was a 
way to try to win her, the best way he could find. 

“ It will not always be like this,” he began, 
cautiously. The thing for us is to do as we are doing 
for a while. I have had hard pulling, Eva, and I am 
just now getting out of the woods. I have certain 
plans — .” His manner remained very moderate; but 
it was his golden dream, it no longer seemed so far off, 
and he became enthusiastic thinking of it. “ Be a little 
patient. I ask only for a couple of good years to give 
me a start. I want you to hold your head high. It 
will be much better if we keep to ourselves now, though 
it is lonely.” 

To request a few hours holiday this week, and be 
told to wait, under strict regulations, for a few years 

[ 39 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


of good crops! She knew what might be expected of 
crops. These were great plans of his. 

She said, It would not cost anything on Saturday.” 

Say no more about it.” 

Without another word she walked away, around the 
house, and threw herself upon the cellar-door, still a 
little warm from the sun. Oh, who would be the 
lucky girl to drive with George Stroh on Battalion 
Day? 

Everything would have seemed different to her if 
she could have looked forward only to a little while 
where it was gay; but she expected nothing except 
the same routine, hard and stupid. She felt as if she 
were in a trap, and half perceived that she really was 
so, because she had been born at Mount Misery, 
because she had to have food and clothing, because she 
did not know where to go. Suddenly she realized with 
intensity the years and years and decades that were 
ahead; and it seemed to her that through all of them 
she would still keep on drudging and hungering and 
imprisoned. Burying her face in her arms, forcing 
herself to be noiseless, she pressed her body against 
the comforting door. 


CHAPTER V 


A ll the neighborhood of Middleport wanted to 
know what girl would drive with George Stroh 
on Battalion Day. Ever since he came of age his 
marriage had been a subject for speculation, and it 
was supposed that his choice on this day would be 
significant. Although Mary knew perfectly that her 
friends were saying, “ Don’t you think it will be Mary 
Shell? ” she was too happy to care. 

When she was a little girl he was the heroic older 
boy whom she secretly admired. As to the gossip 
about him now, she heard it frequently, disbelieved two 
thirds, and thought the rest unimportant. She had 
never expected anything else than that some time he 
would marry someone magnificent, until the last few 
minutes in the churchyard changed everything for her. 
It was very wonderful that he should want her; but 
she had no mistrust of him at all. The days since 
Sunday and the moonlight nights passed in restless 
bliss, and everything she did was done for him. 

It was like him not to come on Sunday afternoon,” 
she thought. Caring for me, he would not want to 
speak of it on impulse, as he did out there in the grave¬ 
yard; he will do it in a dignified way. He will wait 
until Battalion Day. Then when all the people are 

[41 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


very gay it will delight him to know that we are happier 
than any of them. He said, ^ I couldn’t get on with¬ 
out you,’ and he kissed me. He would not have done 
that to me if he had not meant it.” 

On the awaited morning there was bright sunshine 
that promised to stay all day. Mary hurried through 
the necessary work. When she was dressed in white 
and green, she went to the door and stood looking 
out. 

Not a cloud cast a shadow on the Blue Mountain. 
Middleport lay so close to the great ridge that the 
gardens on the north side of the street met the first 
bushy, wild growth, and were invaded perpetually by 
rabbits. The one and only street changed into a 
country road beyond the schoolhouse, the last house 
at the east end. Mary, living next door, heard the 
buzz of recitations for hours daily. Opposite her gate 
the road to Reading turned off southward, and at that 
corner stood the Crossed Keys, a large, low stone 
building with an uneven stone pavement widened into 
a sort of court. A flag waved above the schoolhouse. 
The Crossed Keys was bright with flags. In the parlor 
windows were bouquets composed of red roses, white 
snowballs and blue cornflowers. 

Looking westward between the horse-chestnuts and 
cherrytrees, Mary saw red, white and blue on all sides. 
Although the houses were set irregularly, and were 
miscellaneous in style — stone farmhouse, plaster cot¬ 
tage, wooden mansion ” embellished with jigsaw work 
and the brightest paints — today, when not a house 

[42] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

lacked its decoration, the half mile or more of decora¬ 
tions appeared harmoniously gay. Both stores were 
draped with patriotic bunting. Across the doorway of 
the blacksmith’s shop, against the dark interior, all 
soot, rust and iron, a row of Chinese lanterns hung. 
The laziest man in town had stuck a flag above his 
paintless door. 

The day was beginning. Few mothers could be 
seen, as they remained indoors, getting ready for com¬ 
pany, but carefree fathers sat on clean porches, and it 
seemed that all the children of the community were out 
in clean clothes. An organ-grinder with a monkey 
made music in front of the larger store. Under the 
trees stood lemonade-stands displaying cakes with red, 
white and blue sugar on them. The balloon-man had 
glossy red, blue and green balloons floating over his 
shoulder. A baking-powder agent was distributing 
purple fans. One after another the big spring wagons, 
freshly washed and with beribboned whips, came up 
to the Crossed Keys, bringing whole families. A hay- 
wagon from a village ten miles away arrived with a 
crowd of young men wearing the fanciest ties and 
stockings, who began immediately to pitch quoits in 
the street. Boys on heavy plough-horses kept dashing 
up to the hotel, and then away again to the other end 
of town, delighted with the one yearly opportunity to 
ride as fast and as stylishly as they could. Already 
several politicians were in circulation, button-holing 
and promising. 

Three or four girls came to spend the morning and 

[43] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


see the sights from Mary’s dooryard, which was as 
convenient as a private box. They were the nicest 
girls in the neighborhood. Every one of them wished 
to have it settled who would drive with George Stroh. 
Nobody knew that even yet; so they talked, laughing 
and nervously changing the subject a little oftener than 
usual. One of them pinned some golden alyssum 
among Mary’s shining braids. 

The hour for the parade came and also went. As 
far as the girls could see along the shady road to 
Reading it was full of decorated carriages, white 
dresses, fidgety horses, musicians, eminent citizens, 
militia-men, and boys of all sizes, in wild confusion and 
moving without purpose every minute. Several times, 
as they all waited and waited and the sun grew hotter, 
an outcry and a sudden swirl in the crowd indicated a 
fight. The visiting militia were irate; they shouted 
whatever they had to say to each other, even if they 
were only two feet apart, and used the worst language. 

“ Why doesn’t she start? ” 

‘‘ What are we waiting for? ” 

Why do you wait for George Stroh? Not the 
captain of your company, is he? ” 

He gave us our uniforms, I tell you, and muskets 
and everything. No more broomsticks for us when 
we drill! ” 

Here he comes.” 

Lips that were his for the taking laughed as the 
whole crowd looked in the same direction, and so 
broad a way was made for him that he could dash 

[44] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


down the street. The bays were high steppers, their 
silver-mounted harness glittered; the dark blue piano- 
box buggy was a graceful thing. No such combination 
as that had ever been seen in horse-loving Middleport. 
The least gesture from him would have brought any 
girl in the town to the seat by his side, but there was 
a woman there. Dressed to do credit to the turnout, 
Christiana Stroh herself sat beside her son, looking 
down at the aspirants with a cool, possessive smile. 
She knew how those girls felt. 

Now that they were permitted to start, the marshal, 
on horseback, sitting on a red, white and blue saddle¬ 
cloth, wearing an immense plume on his hat and a 
baldric across his chest, and trying to look unconscious, 
pranced around the corner. After him came the local 
band, blowing and drumming, then the various com¬ 
panies of militia. 

Thrills of proud joy ran through the assemblage 
when the Middleport company appeared; with their 
beautiful uniforms, arms and brass buckles, all shining 
and bright, they were by far the finest body of men in 
line. Thoroughly convinced of this, they marched up 
the street, eyes upon the girls; and before they had 
gone any distance nearly all of them had been presented 
with bouquets, which they held firmly about a foot 
and a half in front of their stomachs, while the 
strangers, conscious of being outshone, went along 
perspiring in dusty boots. At intervals, to make the 
parade longer, followed carriages full of politicians and 
important elderly persons, a secret society in regalia 

[45] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and another society dressed as Indians. When the 
visiting band advanced, in red uniforms with broad 
yellow facings, it was agreed by everybody that they 
were less stylish than the local band, and did not play 
as well. The patriotic float moved slowly; upon it, 
the centre of a group of girls in white, and waving flags, 
stood a young woman who seemed a little stout for the 
Goddess of Liberty. She was dressed in a flag, her 
frizzed hair blew around her shoulders, and* she held 
up a laurel-wreath dramatically. 

Mary enjoyed everything, but it was hard to be 
properly cheerful. George would not come before 
evening, she said to herself. The parade was over. 
Her friends left her, and she went indoors gladly. Her 
home seemed very pleasant, the task of preparing 
dinner quite important. All the conditions of her life 
had acquired poetic dignity. As soon as her father 
joined the crowds streaming out to the drill-ground she 
closed the house and shut herself in her own room, 
where the excitement could reach her only in the form 
of cheerful noises. Now it was hard to be by herself. 
Her hands were cold, her cheeks burned. She tried to 
read, but the book seemed a superfluous thing. She 
tried to sleep, and could not lie still. Finally she took 
out of her best drawer some white material and some 
lace, bought in a fit of extravagance and never used 
because they were too fine. With paper patterns all 
over the floor she soon grew serene; she drew little 
designs for embroidery on the backs of old envelopes, 
and sang to herself. 


[46] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Late in the afternoon sounds of confusion outside 
attracted her attention, and about the same time it 
became too dark to sew. A sky that looked as if the 
sun were buried forever shut down like a lid upon the 
Blue Mountain, which was as gray as stone, and a cold 
wind tore at the frail decorations. It seemed that 
months had passed since morning, that autumn had 
come. Dismayed people trooped back from the drill- 
ground; teams rattled off to shelter; Indians flew 
home, holding on their war-bonnets, and with her 
patriotic garments close-reefed the Goddess of Liberty 
went scudding by. Then one great blast of wind drove 
down the street, and the rain pelted. Above the 
mountain, now visible only as a thick shadow, the 
yellow lightning forked and flared; the downpour 
roared among the hills like breakers, and the trees 
cracked. 

I must get out! ” Mary exclaimed. 

She wrapped herself in a thick shawl from head to 
foot, left the stuffy, silent house and drenched garden, 
and followed a path that led along the mountain-side. 
Up among the trees the air was cold, sweet and heavy; 
raindrops knocked upon the leaves, the branches 
tossed, and the swollen Northkill made itself heard 
among the other stormy sounds. Looking down across 
dripping green thickets, she saw the lights come out 
along the street; then she left all that. The dark woods 
stretched for miles above and beyond her. The storm 
raged on. She was alone with the mountain. 

A strange feeling she had, as if her heart were con- 

[47 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


fined tightly and pressed hard against what imprisoned 
it, increased much in this wild spot; she felt a fiery 
happiness. 

It seems as if there were no other man. A spirit 
to love him as he needs, a mind to understand him, 
charm to hold him — . Oh, Idl try! It will not be 
long now.” 

A circle of lights flashed out around a gospel tent 
which had been set up in the field opposite the school- 
house. She knew what time it was from this, and she 
hastened down. The rain had stopped, leaving the 
whole town soaked and disappointed. All over the 
street, deep in mud, were scattered shreds from the 
decorations and remains of purple paper fans; stringy 
bunting flapped in the damp breeze; of the black¬ 
smith's Chinese lanterns, which should by now have 
been burning brightly, some had blown away, and the 
rest would never shine again. Several young women, 
shivering in summer dresses, looked with discourage¬ 
ment at each others’ muddy skirts; and more than 
one child wailed. The fiddles at the Crossed Keys 
were playing, and kept patiently on, whether anyone 
danced or not. 

When Mary closed her own gate everything dreary 
or perfunctory was shut out. The scent of moist lad’s- 
love and southern-wood met her. She opened all the 
windows to it, could find nothing untidy in her best 
room, and came out again to gather some wet flowers. 
That room could not be without flowers. While she 
changed her dripping clothes she sang a little, fitfully, 

[48] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and as she went down-stairs and lighted two lamps her 
sense of hearing was more acute than usual. What 
was to be hers was the best that could be, and she felt 
undeserving; but she would not have gone a step to 
meet it, and coming to her it would be met with un¬ 
assuming poise. 

He is on the way/^ she thought. I feel it.’^ 
She saw George drive up to the Crossed Keys, and 
walk across the street with a basket in his hand. There 
was a minute, as he stood at the door, when she forced 
herself not to be panic-stricken. He came in 
cheerfully. 

“ Mother sent this. It is a shoo-fly cake for your 
breakfast. Well, what did you think of the parade? 

Everybody said it was the best we ever had here. 
Your horses and your new carriage are beautiful.’^ 
They discussed the parade in detail; he described 
the drill, which had taken place in the afternoon; they 
both regretted the rain. 

With Whitsunday and Battalion Day coming so 
close together this has been a lively week for 
Middleport,’’ she said. 

Yes, and I have enjoyed it. Now we must settle 
down and go to work. There is plenty of work ahead.^^ 
He particularized about the harvest. 

She looked at him in a dazed way. He was sit¬ 
ting almost in the middle of the room, very comfortable 
in a big chair. 

“ Going over to the dance? he inquired, amiably- 
“ I don^t think so.” 

[49] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Have you been to any of the gospel meetings? 

“ No, not yet.” — He shall not know what I 
believed, he shall not,” she said to herself, unsteadily. 

He thought, She seems nervous tonight ”; and he 
tried again. The preacher’s methods over there are 
worth watching. This room looks as if you were going 
to have a party.” 

She glanced at the clean curtains, the lamps burning 
clear, the opening roses. 

Well, I must be off. Oh! Mother wants you and 
your father to come to supper next Saturday evening.” 

Having accepted this invitation and said goodbye to 
him, she at once went upstairs and commenced to take 
off her dress. Her delicate sewing of the afternoon 
was still scattered about. The voice of the preacher 
could be heard from the gospel tent, also the fiddles at 
the Crossed Keys; and it began to rain again, noisily. 
Her hands moved more and more slowly. After those 
days of expecting much she was back again where she 
did not expect anything. What was to be met rolled 
over her like a wave; she met it standing. 

It was all a dream, a bold dream. And I let him 
touch me! He did not mean it. I only hoped. It 
was nothing to him.” 


CHAPTER VI 


A bout seven o’clock on the evening of Battalion 
Day Eva Hain was walking eastward along the 
road at the foot of the Blue Mountain. She kept on 
going toward Middleport because she had started to 
go there. Now she had no reason for wanting to 
arrive. 

It was very wet. When she passed the southward 

% 

road which led to Yost’s she looked eagerly in that 
direction, but the air was so foggy that she saw 
nothing but dim trees with masses of leaves. Yost’s 
Church shone with moisture all over the stone-work, 
and the lights of Middleport looked larger than usual 
through the fine rain. Dark gray, with clouds like 
tatters drifting along its top, the Blue Mountain 
appeared a ghostly barrier; mist and twilight blurred 
the green woods and the green, rolling fields. 

Eva went on, walking in the grass at the side of the 
road, under her umbrella. She was limp and damp all 
over. Her best dress was a red, green and white plaid 
cotton with white lace Vandyke points turned up 
around the hem; and with all her care she had not been 
able to keep those points free from mud. Her white 
shoes, which had belonged to her mother, were badly 
spotted above her rubbers; and as a protection her 

[SI] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


mother’s fringed white shoulder-shawl looked foolish. 
Used to being charming, she now felt perfectly 
ridiculous and woe-begone. When people bound for 
the dance' drove by, she hid as well as she could under 
the big umbrella. 

“ If I had had any sense at all I should have turned 
back instead of waiting under sheds when it was pour¬ 
ing rain, and sneaking into that barn when it lightened 
so. I couldn’t possibly go to the dance alone now. 
Everyone who saw me would laugh at me, dirty as I 
am, and all by myself. Father will find it out. I can 
see him knocking at the door, asking whether my head 
is better. It is exactly what I might have expected.” 

Slowly she pulled one foot out of the mud which had 
nearly sucked off her rubber. It was astonishing to 
think how she had contrived and taken the greatest 
pains in order to land here, spoil all her best clothes 
and to get herself into serious trouble. 

I was so sure that there would be plenty of offers 
to drive me home. I can’t walk those seven miles 
again without something to eat. If I go to the store 
and buy a little with my ten cents I can come back 
here, and sit on the side step of this church where no 
one will see me. Like a tramp eating in the rain! 
Seven miles! ” 

When she reached the store it was necessary to exert 
herself at once to keep the clerks in their place. They 
admired red bows in chestnut curls, but were enter¬ 
tained by haughty airs in a girl who bought a penny’s 
worth of this and two pennies’ worth of that, and 

[ 52 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


wanted it all stowed into one paper bag. A lump in 
her throat had to be ignored until she had sailed out. 

I don’t believe I can eat now; and I know I can’t 
get back to that church,” she thought. I must rest. 
If only I could sit down in any kind of place, and not 
be seen! If anyone else makes fun of me I am afraid I 
shall burst out crying.” 

She stopped at the corner and looked about, espe¬ 
cially at Mary’s little house with the lights burning be¬ 
hind white curtains. Couples in their best clothes went 
dancing past the windows at the Crossed Keys in time 
to the fiddles, and she watched them sorrowfully. In 
the shallow doorway of the school-house she could not 
hide. The gospel tent was the only other place; and 
something was going on there, but she ventured to cross 
over and look in. 

A reading-desk on a platform at one side of the tent 
was draped in black, with a large yellow and black 
motto, Holiness to the Lord,” hanging above. A 
little old organ, decorated with a tight bunch of snow¬ 
balls and bleeding-hearts in a pitcher, stood near by. 
Straw had been spread on the ground, and seats extem¬ 
porized from boards and boxes; before the platform, 
stood a very long, narrow wooden box. Not many 
people had gathered — a few women, three or four 
poor-looking old men, a couple of farm-hands, and 
some boys who hung about near the entrance. A 
plump blonde, evidently used to the lime-light, was 
playing a hymn and leading the singing with business¬ 
like zeal, and the preacher stood on the platform, all 

[ S3 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


ready to begin. He was a stocky man with a square 
head, gray-brown beard and oily skin. 

I wish I could lie down in that straw,’’ Eva thought. 

If I were over in that corner I could sit still. I 
don’t believe they would say anything to me. After a 
while I can think about getting home.” 

To lean her head against the tent-canvas and rest 
her feet in the straw was comfort. The old folks 
merely raised their eyes and thought that they did not 
know this girl; but the assistant was aware of her in 
a minute, and the preacher gave her more than one 
keen look. While the hymn straggled toward its end 
some young people came over from the dance, and 
they expected to giggle and chatter, but he ran his eye 
from one to another so fiercely that they soon quieted 
down. There was silence. Every moment or two 
one of the lights flared, and sent a bright beam across 
a pair of eyes, a bosom or a lap with folded hands 
lying in it. Through the rips in the tent could be seen 
the enormous dark. 

Well! ” the preacher began, in easy Pennsylvania 
German. “ There are very few here tonight. I am 
used to much bigger meetings than this. Now I am 
not going to have any text, neither shall I preach a 
sermon. I intend to talk about Battalion Day. You 
will wonder what I know about it. I know all about 
it. I was born and raised in Schuylkill County, and 
I have drilled too, and paraded, and danced and 
courted the girls.” 

He paused. His voice had been rousing, but when 

[ 54 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


he continued it was quite changed. 

“ You are tired.’^ 

He walked across the platform with his head hanging 
and his whole body sagging. Then he stared at the 
audience reflectively, with shining eye-balls. 

The day you looked forward to is past. The big 
day! You got ready for company, you decorated 
your houses, you trimmed up generally; you worked 
very hard. Now it is all over. To be sure, drinks 
are on tap at the Crossed Keys, and the fiddles are 
going, and any fellow can drop six cents into the 
fiddlers’ cigar-box and dance a quadrille with his girl; 
but we who are no longer twenty, we are ready to sit 
down and rest.” 

Some of the old faces regarded him plaintively. 
More people were coming in, and while he waited for 
them to be settled he walked the platform again. His 
eyes, glittering in his grayish yellow face, picked out 
one person and then another with an intimate and 
domineering look. Eva watched his movements 
angrily. 

“ This morning you felt all ready for a big day. 
The sun was shining. You started in. You intended 
to enjoy yourselves, and you had a pretty fair time. 
Then came the rain. How it spoiled the fun! The 
girls could not walk up and down the street thirty or 
forty times, and show their pretty dresses. The boys 
could not walk up and down after the pretty girls. 
The drilling was cut short, the decorations were tee- 
totally ruined, and everybody caught cold. 

[55] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ And suppose that were all you got? — You folks 
know well enough, if you would only think about it, 
that this night will be the end for many and many a 
one. Fat and hearty, some of them! Isn’t it a pity 
that this rain maybe spoiled somebody’s last good 
time? 

So it will be; so it will surely be. No matter 
whether the end comes now or in ten years or in fifty, 
you will be always ready to be happy, hungry to be 
happy, as you were this morning. And something will 
spoil it, like the rain. Always! Because you’re on 
earth. 

“ Why can’t you get to be happy? Perhaps you 
have to work beyond your strength, so it’s headache 
and backache nearly all the time. Rent-day comes 
around oftener than any other day, and you have to 
wear out your body to keep it covered. Work! 
Work! And at the end of the year what have you? ” 
The sighs came up to the preacher’s ears. Eva — 
with everything gone wrong, two muddy white shoes, 
and a love-story that would not begin — fixed her eyes 
on her own hands. 

Maybe what makes it hard to live is quite dif¬ 
ferent. You need someone to go along the rest of 
the way you have to travel, and keep right close; but 
there is no one. — There was a little fellow once, and 
you were wonderfully proud of him; and he was going 
to be yours always; but he didn’t stay long, and you 
thought your heart would break. — There is something 
you haven’t got. You know now that you never will 



THE HOUSE OF YOST 


get it. You never spoke of it to a soul. The neighbors 
think you have quite an easy time. You wanted it, 
didn’t you? How you did want it! ” 

On more than one face appeared the wet track of a 
tear. The preacher stopped; and while the assistant 
sang a mellifluous stanza about rest for the weary, 
sobs were heard. 

You have an invitation. You are invited to go, 
after you have finished your time here, to a place. — 
Well, I’ll tell you! You could not picture anything 
one half so good as that, not if you put together all 
the good you know. Rest! You will not need to 
think of the day as it passes, or of the coming day. 
Rest! And not only that. Rest, and the desire of 
your hearts. Glory! Glory! There the mother who 
has lost her child will find it waiting, and the widow 
will have her man again. The aching heart will be 
satisfied.” 

“ Glory! Hallelujah! ” 

“ But — how are we to get there? ” demanded the 
preacher. 

Half crouching, he stared straight into the faces 
looking up at him. There was a sort of nakedness in 
them. Dance-music was heard from the tavern fiddles, 
very loud. 

Hear those!” said he, threateningly. ‘‘In the 
soul of each one of you is something which would keep 
you from feeling at home in Heaven, something to 
spoil even that bright glory. With all your heart you 
wish you had not done that thing; but it is done. 

[57] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


You are guilty. There is no getting away from it. 
In your soul it lies, like the worm in the nut.” 

“0-oh! 0-o-oh, Lord! ” 

“Look at your souls. Look! What is that rotten 
spot? ” 

“I’m going. I’d rather be out in the mud than 
here,” Eva said to herself. 

While he ostentatiously looked at no one the preacher 
continued as if he were calling off items: 

“ Is there anybody who has seen anything of a false 
bottom in a peck measure? A man may be a pillar of 
the church, and yet have a big part of his landlord’s 
share sticking to his fingers. The old grandmother 
knitting stockings for the little ones? What’s against 
her? Maybe a night her husband never knew of 
years and years ago. And the young woman with 
many children? Will the spirit of a child be waiting 
for her at the Judgment seat, to say, ‘ Mother, why 
was I not born? ’ ” 

Suddenly the preacher sprang into the air, waved his 
arms, and shouted, “ And do you think you can sneak 
into Heaven anyhow? When your last hour comes, 
and your sins hang on you like weights, and the cold, 
black flood of death washes you away, and the bright 
golden gates bang in your faces forever — then you will 
repent, I tell you, then you will weep and mourn! 
^Stop thinking about rent-day, and how to pay for your 
next suit of clothes, and think about the day that is 
drawing nearer and nearer, when no roof will shelter 
you, and no garments cover your sins. Come forward! 

[S8] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Kneel down here at the mourners^ bench! It is only 
an old store-box, but it is also the gate of Heaven. 
Confess your sins! Not to me, a wretched sinner like 
yourselves, but to your own hearts. Come forward! 
Come forward! ’’ 

0-o-oh, Lord, have mercy! ’’ 

I lied to Father, and deceived him as much as I 
could,” Eva thought. “ And he works hard. Oh, 
poor Father! ” 

Now in violent motion, leaping, stamping, clapping 
his hands, the preacher repeated again and again, 
“ Come forward! Come forward! ” The assistant 
began to sing and play hard, battering the key-board. 
With the incessant beat, beat of the hymn and the 
scraping of the fiddles mingled sounds of contrition, 
weeping and groaning: The preacher screwed his 
eyes shut and started to pray very loud and im¬ 
peratively. Suddenly the lights flared high, and the 
tent flapped and creaked in a gust of wind that ran 
howling away over the Blue Mountain, while the rain 
poured down. 

Through the straw groping feet rustled. A woman 
in tears crept to the mourners’ bench; she was followed 
by a fat girl with a streaming red face; then a man 
shambled up, bent his body like a stiff tool, buried his 
head in his arms and sobbed. 

“ Glory! Glory! ” the preacher shouted; and he 
prayed on. 

“ Praise the Lord! ” cried out the assistant, with a 
blow on the key-board. 


[59] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Oh, I am so wicked! How can they do that with 
everybody looking at them? Oh, how wicked I am! ” 
Eva went over and over it. 

‘‘Hallelujah! Hallelujah!’’ came from all sides. 
A very lean woman stood up straight and stiff, with 
closed eyes, and began to clap her hands and say at 
every clap, “ Ha-a-allelujah! Ha-a-allelujah! 

“ Come forward,” the preacher quietly commanded 
Eva. 

She got up, walked through the audience, and sank 
into the straw. There she knelt, erect and perfectly 
still, and lifted her hands to him in appeal, the red* 
lined palms upward. He came down from the 
platform and knelt beside her. 

“ I’m so wicked,” she told him several times. She 
would have said it to anybody. 

“ When you feel that, there is good hope. Don’t 
struggle, don’t hold on to your sins. Let them go. 
Say, ‘ I repent, I renounce,’ and then all the peace and 
joy that are waiting for you will flow into your soul.” 

“ It’s no use, not any,” she answered, twisting her 
body about, although her white face was rigid. “ I 
have a bad heart.” 

“ No, you have not.” 

“ I lied to my father today.” 

She had begun to shiver and seemed ready to 
collapse, so he leaned over, still kneeling, and supported 
her. He looked bored. Other people were forgetting 
their feelings while they craned their necks; the fat 
girl had become observant; the nervous man no longer 

[6o] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


sobbed. Just then two voices, the assistant’s and 
another, a spirited baritone, started a familiar hymn. 
A soothed expression came into the harassed and 
sorrowful faces; and presently the whole crowd was 
singing. 

During the last verse someone said, “ Can I help 
you. Preacher? ” 

‘‘ Maybe you can. Listen,” the preacher said to 
Eva. “ I want you to stop this. I shall stay here 
another week, and if you like you can talk things over 
with me; but now you must go. This is no place for 
you. Will you be a good girl and go straight home? ” 
he asked, kindly. 

I’ll try to get home,” she answered, beginning 
quietly to weep. 

I’ll take her. Preacher. I have a horse and buggy 
over at the Crossed Keys.” 

Eva looked up. It took a full minute for her to 
realize that she was looking at George Stroh, and that 
he was waiting for her respectfully. 

She is the only one here who is sincere in what she 
feels. She has a lovely expression,” was his thought. 

Down in the straw, weeping on because she could not 
immediately stop, Eva rectified her attitude. 

Ah! That repentance was not exhaustive. So it 
goes!” thought the preacher. He said, “Is this 
young man a friend of yours? Shall he take you 
home? ” 

“ Yes. I know him,” she diffidently replied. 

“ Smooth little one! ” George said to himself. “ And 

[6i] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


such a prompt lie: on her knees, with the tears on her 
lashes! I believe this will be a pleasant evening.’^ 

As he conducted her through the audience there were 
critical smiles, while the blonde assistant stared after 
them wistfully. A boy had picked up Eva’s paper bag 
of mixed food, and he followed them and tried to give 
it back. But Eva viewed it with horror, and told him, 
haughtily, That’s not mine.” 


[62] 


CHAPTER VII 


W HEN the two left the tent, the night closed 
around them, softly black, shot with lights 
from the Crossed Keys. The rain had almost stopped. 
George spoke with a complimentary inflection which 
implied that in her he admired all sorts of charms. 
Take my arm; and I want you to use it.” 

She said nothing: she felt subdued by the suddenness 
of this. 

“ Come with me. You can^t drive anywhere while 
you are so cold.” 

Silently she went where he led. At the Crossed 
Keys the festivities filled every part of the house: 
business in the bar-room, dancing in the parlor, a great 
deal to eat spread out in the dining-room, and every¬ 
body running around. George placed Eva in a warm 
corner, and a glass of wine was the first thing he 
brought her, then a shawl belonging to Louisa Fry, 
for which he had not asked, and food. 

You were badly chilled. You must have come a 
long way in the rain,” he said, after a while, hoping to 
find out who she was. 

“ Yes.” 

And it was too much for you over there.” 

She looked disgusted, and did not answer. Why 

[63] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


did I go up to that mourners^ bench? she thought. 
“ They were singing, and I felt wicked.’’ 

Would you dance a few minutes — to keep from 
taking cold? 

I don’t believe you remember me,” she said, 
timidly. 

“ I never saw you before.” 

I was sorry you cut your forehead.” 

“ Were those roses from your hat? Don’t say so.” 

I had no hat.” She said to herself, Can he really 
have forgotten all about Sunday night? ” 

Her half dreamy way was very puzzling. After 
studying her for a moment he suggested, “ Shall we 
dance now? ” 

As quietly as before she went with him, but her 
heart bounded in her breast. “ Going to the dance 
after all! Going to the dance with George Stroh! ” 

Louisa Fry’s parlor was disintegrated for the even¬ 
ing. Every piece of furniture had been carried out; 
all the fancy draperies had disappeared; the carpet was 
gone too, and the floor was covered with sand. At 
one end of the room stood an immense store-box as a 
platform for the fiddlers, and there they sat, with red, 
white and blue rosettes in their button-holes, and 
played and played. The leader called the figures and 
kept an eye on a cigar-box half full of small change 
which stood just in front of his feet. As many sets as 
could crowd upon the floor were performing a quadrille 
with such vim that the coal-oil lamps on the wall 
shuddered in their brackets. Nearly all the guests 

[64] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


were young people who worked hard for a living; and 
because of the storm they had had to make a special 
effort to get to the dance. All wore their best clothes; 
the girls had flowers and ribbons in their hair and on 
their breasts. There were several Madonna faces 
among them, and some of the men would have made 
striking portrait subjects. They were very joyous: 
many of them were lovers. 

A stranger to everyone, with the disadvantage of 
crushed skirts and dirty shoes, Eva still felt equal to 
meeting all the lights and all the eyes while those fiddles 
were going on. The quadrille ended, and George 
dropped a quarter into the cigar-box, made a sign to 
the leader to begin again, and hurried her to a place 
in a aet. They were observed thoroughly; the glances 
at Eva were perforating. Her cheeks glowed, her 
hand felt cold in her partner’s; she was painfully 
ashamed of her clothes; but she had forgotten to be 
tired, and her mind was made up to take all the 
pleasure she could get. She held her head high, and 
looked as dashing as George when they danced 
forward. 

He found her very light; and he kept watching the 
fire-flash between her brows. Not much was said 
while they danced, but at the end of it he began to 
talk, standing beside her and discouraging every one 
from coming near. He did the same thing through 
dance after dance. To draw back the attention of 
their partners the girls exerted themselves and were 
as attractive as possible, while the men tried to be 

[65] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


gallant and bold. Everyone was keyed up. It was a 
happy evening. 

“ But who on earth is she? George thought. 

When he tried her with English she answered so 
nicely that they continued with it instead of in the 
dialect. She said very little, and about herself nothing 
at all, except that she hardly ever went to Reading: 
she would like to see the town lighted up. He felt 
that he was entertaining her, talking about Phila¬ 
delphia and about Yost’s; she asked a question or two 
about Yost’s. 

Near the end of an intermission it occurred to him to 
say, ‘‘ Can you waltz? ” 

Yes. I learned to dance and to speak English 
from my mother. Before she was married she lived 
in Philadelphia two years,” confided Eva suddenly. 

‘‘ Isn’t your mother living? ” 

No.” 

“ Your father? ” 

His failure to remember her father was so amusing 
that she could not quite conceal her laughter. George 
glanced at her sidewise, experimentally, and she looked 
upward at him. Both were less charmed than deter¬ 
mined to charm. Calling out an order for a waltz, he 
danced off with her. Only two couples were able to 
follow, and the many who could not were indignant. 

“Wants to show off! ” 

“ Half-breed ways! ” 

Though he noted who spoke, George still appeared 
perfectly benign and good natured. As soon as the 

[66] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


music stopped he found a pretext to get away. The 
most secluded spot available was the steps on the 
garden side of the house. Enough light came from a 
window for Eva to see the package he produced, hold¬ 
ing it ready to hide again instantly. 

What is this? ” she inquired. 

Schneeburger snuff.’’ 

What will you do with such a lot? ” 

It’s valuable. For one thing it matches the sand 
on that floor. We’ll see. Until just now I didn’t 
really intend to use it.” 

She began to laugh quietly. I needn’t care about 
the dance because he will take me home,” she thought. 

Will you help? We must have everyone out of 
the room? ” 

“ That I can manage. Let me get the lay of the 
land.” 

After they had whispered over the plan he said, 
“ You know we may have to run. This same crowd 
chased a man three quarters of a mile once, and he 
couldn’t move out of the ditch where they left him.” 

Very well. I’m not a bad runner.” 

Good! I’ll bring my carriage, and we can be in 
it and away inside of ten seconds.” 

Goodbye.” 

As she disappeared he looked after her with 
admiration. Then he also left the house; and five 
minutes later he was driving his horse around the 
corner of the street. Suddenly there came from some¬ 
where out in the dark an energetic contralto scream; 

[67] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


two more followed, ending with a choke. Every one 
believed that a scene of struggle and terror and perhaps 
robbery was going on, concealed by the night, in the 
direction of the vegetable-garden. The dancers halted, 
groups on the stairs melted away, the fiddlers threw 
down their bows, men set their glasses on the bar and 
shouted for lanterns, and the whole crowded popula¬ 
tion of the Crossed Keys ran out of doors. It was no 
longer raining, fortunately. 

George made sure with one glance that not a soul 
could see him, and leaped up the front steps. Crouch¬ 
ing in the comers of the deserted parlor, he used his 
arm like a sower’s. The room was all prepared for 
torture in a minute. Then with Eva at his side he 
circulated among the search-parties hunting every¬ 
where with their lanterns. One crushed lettuce-head 
and two broken stalks of sweet-William were all that 
could be found, though they looked most carefully and 
talked a great deal. 

To quiet the excitement the fiddlers returned to their 
chairs and began a favorite tune. The young people 
came back shivering; and the dancing was very lively, 
with stamping and flirting of skirts. After only a few 
minutes of this a look of suspicion and discomfort 
appeared on one face after another. Girls uttered 
lady-like little sounds, men sneezed discreetly. 
Polite comments followed. 

“ Oh, you took cold out in the damp. Do you feel 
a draught? ” 

When five sneezed at once their friends regarded 

[ 68 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


them questioningly. Conversation grew strained, then 
ceased; the quadrille kept on, but they did it as if 
they were wound up. As the acute symptoms spread 
it became very difficult to dance; soon it was impos¬ 
sible ; one and then another set had to stop, the fiddlers 
too. The whole crowd was afflicted: nice girls, losing 
interest in everything, leaned with streaming eyes 
against walls; young men, but now full of gallant feel¬ 
ings, shrank away from their partners and made 
miserable noises. The most wretched of all was a 
plump fellow, older than the others, who liked to set 
a good example; he had not missed a single dance, and 
he was in love, but he forgot it now. Sitting on the 
fiddlers’ platform beside the money-box, he let the 
tears roll from his tightly shut eyes down his big, hot 
cheeks, and once every forty-five seconds he quaked, 
bowed himself far forward and uttered a great roar. 
There was something about his performance which 
suggested grief, thorough-going grief. 

George and Eva, standing inconspicuously in the 
hall where they could watch everything that was going 
on, pretended not to look. He talked steadily; she 
held her tongue firmly between her teeth, missed 
nothing, and had a pitying face. However, the plump 
man kept his eye on them: a suspicion had entered his 
mind; and when he was again compelled to make a 
bow he scooped up a handful of sand from the floor, 
and examined it gingerly. 

Schneeburger snuff! ” he shouted. 

There, was an outcry: We must leave this room. 

[69] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

The dance is done for. The dirty trick! Who 
did it? 

You needn’t look farther than those two in the hall. 
Neither of them was here when we heard that scream¬ 
ing. She fooled us with it to get us out, and he threw 
the snuff.” 

George responded, “ Prove that, old Fatty.” 

“ Why don’t you deny it? ” 

“ That friend of George Stroh’s is a funny one. She 
has spoken to no one but him all evening,” a girl’s 
insulting voice put in. Who is she anyhow? 

Yes, what’s her name? Why don’t you introduce 
her to us. Is she a stranger to you too? ” jeered the 
plump man. 

Must you know a stranger’s family history before 
you can treat her decently? ” George asked, stepping 
toward him. 

“ Are you deaf and dumb, or are you ashamed to tell 
your name? ” the shrill girl called out. 

By this time the crowd had reached a decision on 
the evidence, and although they still had to pause in 
their anger and sneeze and crow, their purpose was 
business-like. The leader’s figure and shrewdness 
suggested an elephant. Now he raged like one. 

“ Ah, don’t waste time talking,” he yelled. Stroh 
did it. Go for him! ” 

George and Eva made a dash out of the house. 
When he swung her into the buggy and sprang in him¬ 
self the men closed around him, some cursing, and 
formidable hands grasped at him and at the bridle. 

[70] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


The horse began to rear in the muddy street; a cut of 
the whip started him on a run. As he dashed through 
the town and out of it one convalescing fiddler began 
to play Home, Sweet Home.’^ 

Around the flying pair the fields spread out like a 
refuge without limits. The sky hinted at vast altitudes 
of darkness above where the eye penetrated. After 
the rain the air was wonderfully sweet and fresh. 

Eva drew deep breaths and began to tremble. 
George was chuckling. 

“ Did you see the very tall fiddler? Did you see 
the fellow in the pepper-and-salt suit? And I don’t 
believe fat Clint will get his face back to normal in 
time for Sunday School.” 

“Oh! That girl! ” 

“ She has reason for her spiteful tongue. Don’t 
think of her. How was I to tell them your name? ” 

“ They are dreadfully angry at us.” 

“ They’ll soon forget it. Why, you mustn’t shiver 
so. Let me put the laprobe around you. Now where 
are we going? ” 

“ To Mount Misery, back to Mount Misery,” was 
the answer she made to herself. She said, “ And you 
don’t remember last Sunday night? ” 

“ What was it I did last Sunday night? Wasn’t she 
fibbing when she said she knew me? ” he wondered. 
He asked, “ How can I take you home when I don’t 
know where you live? ” 

“ You must leave me at the foot of the hill.” 

“ What hill? Oh, well, you needn’t tell me. I know 

[ 71 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


who you are. You are Cinderella! 

He kissed her as a matter of course. 

^‘What! Don’t jump! Look, I have stopped the 
horse. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world. I see I 
made a great mistake.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


W HEN at last they had all gone their various 
ways and nobody was left to watch her, Eva 
came slowly out of the house. She had been able to 
evade her men-folk, with much help from Helen in the 
dangerous undertaking, and every evening for a week 
she had stolen up the path to the top of Mount 
Misery. Now it was Saturday again, and all the days 
were challenging and delightful. Although she was 
sure that George would be waiting at their meeting- 
place she stopped a while to stroke the lonesome tiger- 
cat on the fence. Her hand touched large scars under 
his stripes: he had had to live by his wits before they 
were developed. He set up a rumbling purr, ran his 
claws in and out of his big plush paws, and stared at 
her, while she looked thoughtfully into his shining, 
slitted eyesu 

She went along the crooked footpath, among bushes 
and boulders and sparse grass, across the new land on 
the hill-top. From where ho leaned against a beech- 
tree George saw her coming and descended to meet 
her. A few paces away he halted; her graces were 
such a surprise and satisfaction that every time he 
beheld her he wondered afresh. She seemed a stranger 
in her surroundings. 


[73] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Good-evening,” he said. 

“ Well? ” she answered, absently. 

It’s always well when I’m with you.” 

At that she smiled as if she had just recognized him. 
Once more he escorted her, a little way over the hill 
to a seat made by a bed of dry moss and a fallen tree. 
They shared this spot with the catbirds; it was hidden 
by thickets in blossom and by three or four trees stand¬ 
ing close together, and among crowds of wild roses 
last year’s black, dead mullein-stalks stood up like 
spears. Here he lay down, and rejoiced in looking at 
her. Copper-colored lights shone in the braids around 
her head; above her fresh dark blue cotton gown her 
neck was smooth and white. 

“ Isn’t she the one? ” he thought. 

They were happy passing their evenings with spurts 
of conversation and long silent intervals; and now she 
did not say a word. She was both depressed and 
fascinated. What she wanted with all her heart she 
might perhaps get — this evening possibly. 

What have you been doing with yourself today? ” 
he asked. 

The different kinds of work she named showed as 
much knowledge of farm-management as of house¬ 
keeping. I was up this morning before four,” she 
concluded. “ Now the Mount Misery family is all 
ready for Sunday.” 

“ You shouldn’t work so hard.” 

“ We must keep the place running,” she answered, 
coldly. 


[74] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


May I smoke? Ah, that’s better.” 

She began to examine some wild strawberry vines 
that grew within her reach. 

“ These will soon be ripe,” she remarked. “ Every 
year Helen and I go out for a whole day and gather 
berries to preserve. We look forward to it. They 
smell so sweet, heaped up in the kettles.” 

As she offered him a spray of red berries he caught 
her hand, and let it go; hard work had coarsened it. 
The dejected place which was her home spread out 
under his eyes, and he surveyed it, wondered what sort 
of fellow her father was, and thought, But is she 
really the one? 

Do you see the mark on that beech? ” he asked, 
suavely. What is it? ” 

A key-hole.” 

It is; and if you can get the right key you will 
find luck. What will your luck be? ” 

Pretty things, dresses, sashes, beads,” she 
answered, joyously. “ What do you think I’d have if 
I could? Not to wear much, just to have. A black 
velvet dress.” 

Would that make you happy? ” 

Indeed it would.” 

His repulsion to her poverty vanished. “ She shall 
have her black velvet,” he said to himself. “ She shall 
have everything a woman wants.” 

Where he lay he could look out between the trees, 
far out and away from Mount Misery. The west was 
gorgeous. A reddish glow covered miles and miles of 

[75] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


That was applause which satisfied him. He said, 

It is time for our bird.’’ 

A star or two had appeared, and it had become dusky 
in the valley: two or three lights began to burn in 
lonely farmhouses; a field on Mount Misery glowed 
white with daisies. Out of a treetop came a soft 
warbling; it was as brief as sweet. 

I can never do as well as that. It has sung to 
us every night this week — every night this week, 
Eva.” 

“ If he had nothing and needed a home, if he were to 
come to Mount Misery and work there, I could be 
perfectly contented,” she said to herself. 

The long silence that followed was happy. 

“ I don’t know whether I could measure up to this 
man, he is so splendid,” she joyfully thought. But 
if ever I am with him I shall do my very best. It will 
be if it is to be.” 

What are you thinking about? ” he asked. 

Averting her smiling eyes, she said, ‘‘ All these 
flowers around us remind me of some verses in a book 
I have, a very old book. When my grandmother was 
a girl it was old.” 

Can you say the verses? ” 

She began quietly to repeat them. It was a folk¬ 
song with the refrain, “ Guard thyself, fair floweret,” 
in which a most profound fatalism found vivid expres¬ 
sion; at the end came a change to a brief mood of 
triumph. With her eyes fixed upon the shadowy hills 
she appeared like a Msenad in trouble about her soul. 

[78] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


George was always hopeful of finding women in 
general both beautiful and womanly. He was willing 
to think them so, although he had learned to conceal 
it. The handsome country boy had had painful snubs 
as well as plenty of other experiences to make him 
wary. Here were beauty and womanliness in a high 
degree, and alluring vitality, all where he had never 
thought of finding them. 

She is what she seemed to be when I first saw her 
in the tent, weeping, dear little soul,” was his thought. 

Her tears were honest.” 

“ I want to tell you something,” he said. ‘‘ I never 
spoke of it to anyone.” 

He told all about the strange young woman with 
the boy and the lame rat-terrier, who had come to 
YosUs in his childhood and captivated him. Eva 
listened eagerly, wanting to know his life. 

And what happened? ” 

Nothing happened. I don’t know^ho they were 
or what became of them.” 

“ Then why is it important? ” 

That woman was different from anyone I ever 
saw.” His expression changed, his tone softened. 

What style? ” 

“ Tall, with a bright color and red hair.” 

You saw a great deal for a little boy.” 

I remember her as sad and rather frightened.” 

Was anything done for her, do you think? ” 

Surely. Father was always helping people in 
trouble.” 


[79] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ But she had to beg! She was in need and 
frightened, and she had to come and beg.” 

Both became absorbed in what they were thinking. 
He said to himself, “ It brings Eva close to have told 
her that. She is nearer to me now than anyone else 
in the world.” 

To Eva the contrast suddenly became intolerable 
between him, with his air of wellbeing and all the 
dignity of YosFs back of him, and herself and all poor 
souls. She had nothing but her beauty, and the 
buttercups and chipmunks had that. 

You don’t know what it is to be poor,” she thought. 

You never went without a necessary thing in your 
life. What you want you get; and you don’t earn it.” 

Among the starlit mountains they were seemingly 
the only two human beings, with the rustling, sweet 
night wind to keep them company. He drew her out 
of the shadow of the leaves, so that he could see her 
face. 

‘‘ You are looking at me savagely.” 

In her softest voice she asked, When will you come 
to our house? ” 

I thought you made me sneak up here and sit with 
the rabbits, on account of your father and brother.” 

I can’t bear this way.” 

‘‘ You want me to come, and yet you are afraid to 
have me. What am I to do? ” 

Her spirit with all its energy seemed to leap and 
strain forward to meet what was due to it. “ I 
shouldn’t need to be ashamed of my wretched home if 

[8o] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


you were about to take me away/^ was the answer she 
suppressed. She sat in excited silence. 

What does it matter where? he said. When I 
first caught sight of you it was as if some one said to 
me, ^ See her, see her, — in this common world I ’ ” 

He debated with himself: “ She is the one. Why 
don’t I settle it? No.’^ To be a little negligent of 
this great thing and to let it wait befitted him. Very 
much lay within his powers, and he was not bound at 
all, still quite free to choose. He thought, luxuriously. 
Not yet. After a while.” 

“ I must go home now,” she said, in a quiet voice. 

Although she allowed him to kiss her she went 
through it patiently, thinking her own thoughts, which 
were sad. 


[8i] 


CHAPTER IX 


LTHOUGH the weather had turned so cloudy 



n that the late-rising moon could not be seen, 
some light came from the sky. The atmosphere was 
mysterious, neither dark nor clear, and meadows and 
fields looked wonderfully soft gray or almost black; 
aa always late in the night the mountains seemed 
alive, and possessed of powers of enchantment. Yost^s 
church, standing conspicuously on high ground, 
appeared dim white and unreal; the marble angel was 
like a white shadow, and the grave-stones made white 
spots in the grass. A horse tied to a tree stood waiting 
patiently. Out across the churchyard and over the 
fields came rolling wave after wave of music. 

Inside the church the darkness formed an indistinct 
concave; thick shadows were under the galleries and 
behind the altar; dust falling out of the woodwork, 
which had been carved zealously a hundred years 
before, made the chilly air impure. What light there 
was came from one candle burning near the organ, and 
in the midst of the small, glowing area George Stroh’s 
face appeared very brilliantly colored. On the way 
homeward he had stopped his horse again and again, 
to write on the backs of old envelopes the music and 
words that came to him of themselves; and now he had 


[82] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


to sing. He felt as if with no effort he could pour out 
voice enough to fill an amphitheatre made by the hills. 

Ages long has been my time of wanting. 

In my lonesome dream she waited somewhere; 

But I thought my dream a shining phantom, 

Sought with little hope; and I have found her. 

Pure is she and fair beyond my vision: 

Warm and fair as roses in the sunlight, 

Pure as dawn above the snowy mountains. 

Nothing moves on earth that shall deprive me. 

Death shall serve to make my love immortal. 

Mine to keep for all time! Come, my dearest. 

Twilight and the homeward road are ready. 

It^a good,’^ he thought, when he had sung it 
through several times. But I shall do far better with 
her beside me than I can do alone. I’ll wait no longer; 
I will ask for her hand tomorrow night. She is like 
hot sunshine. We shall be marvellously happy. She 
will be my wife; her name will be Eva Stroh, and she 
will live in our house, and sit down there in Mother’s 
pew. Here where Father preached she will bring my 
children to church. I shall have her with me year 
after year; and when we lie out there in the grave-yard 
we shall be side by side, and the wind will blow over 
the two of us, and together we shall listen to the music 
every Sunday.” 

He looked about him with quick, purposeless glances, 
at the candle, at his scattered bits of paper, then down 

[83] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


across the church. It seemed that noiseless feet were 
mounting the steps to the dusky pulpit, and that in a 
moment the sounding-board would reflect a mellow, 
grave voice that was heard no more. 

Father! I can almost see you in your place. 
Listen. I have found her. You have not forgotten? 
I am the only one to carry on your name, and in my 
son you will have another earthly life.” 

Making a great effort to return to an ordinary frame 
of mind, he picked up a prayer-book, opened it and 
read here and there on a page: 

And although we by our sins have well earned Thy 
just wrath and every sort of punishment; yet we pray, 
O true and merciful Father, from the depths of our 
souls, that Thou wilt not think of the sins of our 
youth. — Preserve us graciously — from all anguish of 
heart, and especially from unbearable, intense temp¬ 
tation of the soul, and an evil, sudden death.” 

Without knowing what he read he closed the book. 
The tension of his eager spirit would not break; it 
increased. His feeling reached two ways. His devo¬ 
tion to his father which had governed him in the past 
now sent him forward. 

“Eva! Eva!” 


[84] 


CHAPTER X 


T he hour when George waited secretly for Eva 
on the hilltop was beautiful at Yost’s. While 
the tall, mottled button-ball trees along the water still 
had sunlight on their upper branches, dark shadows 
covered the grass. The orioles and redwings were 
making their last flights for the day and singing brief 
songs. Yost’s and the Northkill belonged together; 
the sound of ripples and the mists, morning and eve¬ 
ning, were a part of life there. Christiana loved the 
stream, which brought fertility and was the blessing of 
the place, and felt confidence in it as in a friend. Up 
near the top of the Blue Mountain an immense spring 
which was the source of the creek rose in some wood¬ 
land of hers; and before leaving her jurisdiction it had 
a long way to flow, for the land on both sides pertained 
to the Yost estate. From the stone bridge through the 
meadows to the house there was about a mile of little 
rapids and glossy shallows and jade-green depths. 

In early spring sometimes for a few hours the 
peaceful stream rose raging out of all bounds, so 
Grandfather Yost had located the buildings on the 
higher western side, two terraces above the road. There 
were so many of them—barns, smoke-house, distillery, 
bake-oven and spring-house, all made of the same kind 

[85] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


of stone — that strangers often mistook them for a 
little village. Large spruces and hemlocks kept the 
terraces rather dark. The elderly boxwood and flower¬ 
ing shrubs had to get along as well as they could with¬ 
out much sunlight, and moss grew around the flagstone 
path leading to the front door. To own that carved 
Georgian doorway was a distinction. On each side of 
it stood a white bench, and a clipped arbor-vitae tree 
as straight as a sentry. The house-front, eight win¬ 
dows broad, had dignity; against the blue-gray stone, 
which was as clean as if just quarried on the mountain, 
the woodwork looked sharply white. It was a very 
quiet place, much quieter than in Paul Stroh’s time. 

This was the evening of the tea-party. The material 
part of it was over, and the guests had come out for 
air. Sunk in a rocking-chair, away from the women, 
Luther Shell remained motionless with his cigar. 
His eyes were half closed, his drapery-like attitude 
would soon rub the newness out of his spring suit, 
and he looked particularly apple-cheeked. Mary, 
who was always expected at these festivities of her 
elders, had wandered down to the gate, where she 
watched the passing water with an acquiescent expres¬ 
sion. Louisa Fry was established on one white bench, 
in a very rigid attitude, because of her regard for the 
good brown silk which immersed her in knife-pleat- 
ings, ruffles and puffs. On the other bench, oppo¬ 
site her life-long friend, Christiana sat at rest. Her 
head, with slightly gray hair plaited and crimped, and 
her deep-bosomed figure, in a lavender gown that lay 

[86] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


in broad folds, suggested sculpture rather than paint¬ 
ing. The orbits of her gray eyes were unusually deep 
above ruddy cheeks, and she had a slow smile with 
a dimple. 

She felt concerned about Louisa now. At their 
parties they went over each other’s minor affairs 
thoroughly, forgetting Luther for long periods, as 
they had done when Mary’s mother took an active 
part; but this evening it was alarming to see how 
the genial Louisa Fry scorned every innocent topic 
and fairly bit it off. Christiana decided to look into 
this, and set about it. 

Are you still worn out after Battalion Day, 
Louisa? ” 

“ How can I rest? Maybe this is the last Battal¬ 
ion Day that Middleport people will ever see.” 

Why so? ” Christiana inquired. She thought, 
“ Can it be possible that Louisa has been upset by 
that queer preacher across the way from her? ” 

Don’t I always get up all celebrations that we have 
here? ” 

Certainly. Don’t you feel well? ” 

“ Oh, I feel well.” That many important matters 
were not well, all wrong, suppressed out of pure 
politeness, was implied by Louisa’s tone. 

Then why shouldn’t there be another Battalion 
Day next year? ” 

“ It was too lively; and I couldn’t get rid of the 
people, I couldn’t chase them off. Even after I saw 
the last of them headed for home I couldn’t straighten 

[87] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


things out, so tired I was.’’ 

So it didn’t pay you? ” 

“ Oh, it paid me. Beer flowed that day! Indeed 
it seemed that they would swim in it. Even my old 
Molly — wouldn’t you think that after living at my 
place thirty-one years my Molly would be used to 
beer? — even she was out as soon as it was light, 
hunting for her teeth, which she had dropped in 
Troxel’s corn-field. And my table-cloth! ” Now 
that she was started Louisa went along on her own 
power. “ I got the fruit-stains out finally; with 
much rubbing and much bleaching and much worry. 
I know one thing: never again my best table-cloth on 
Battalion Day! But it set off the pies so, and indeed 
they were worthy of it, for my vanilla-pie is such a 
pie that the first piece makes you want another and 
the second makes you sick. Now it is all over, and I 
am thankful; and George’s snuff — 

How often have I promised myself that the next 
time I wouldn’t come? ” Luther was thinking. But 
I always do come. What would they talk about if I 
were not here? We are a queer crowd to be sitting 
around together. Three women, one man; three 
workers, one drone; three middle-aged people, one 
child; and that is the greatest difference of all.” 

Hearing Louisa mention George and the snuff, he 
spoke quite loud, and also made Christiana a little 
bow. 

“ I congratulated George on his luck in getting the 
lady he had to drive with him in the parade.” 

[88] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Christiana was much pleased. “ I am perfectly 
satisfied with my son/^ she said. 

Nobody replied to that. Luther, meeting Louisans 
eye, slightly contorted hi& smiling, sceptical face. 

Mary came wandering back from the water just 
then. 

I am glad you had Battalion Day while Father 
is still here, Aunt Louisa,” she said. He enjoyed it 
so much.” 

Are you going away again, Luther? ” Christiana 
asked. 

Going to leave his loom while customers offer big 
prices because he makes prettier carpets than any 
other weaver in the county. Going to tramp the 
swamps among the bullfrogs, sleep by the roadside 
and sell rush mats at back doors! ” Louisa almost 
intoned. And he a lawyer in early life! Was 
justice of the peace until he resigned.” 

“ Louisa, whom do you think the democratic con¬ 
vention will nominate? ” 

This made Louisa look into space with such dis¬ 
pleasure that Christiana interposed. She had a way 
which could soothe and disarm. “ I hope you agree 
with me; but if you do not I have done my best; and 
I should be very sorry to hurt your feelings,” was 
expressed by her frank, gentle look, when she had 
dropped a curt word. 

And where are you going, Luther? ” she said. 

Luther would not have answered that question 
from anyone else in the world. The dialect, he 

[89] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

thought, never sounded so soft as when Christiana 
used it. 

“ Along the Northkill first, for rushes. Then I 
shall camp somewhere for a while, and dry them and 
make a stock of mats; and then I shall start off. I 
don^t know how far I’ll go. It would all be spoiled 
if I knew that. How I hate a calendar! ” 

“ You like the swampy places, don’t you? ” 

“ Christiana, I feel the summer coming along, and 
I can’t breathe in a house. I want to tramp beside 
the creek, and have all the time there is. When I go 
wading after rushes, with the wind from far off 
running over them and the sunshine on the pools, and 
when I lie on the ground and hear the water moving 
and see the sky full of stars, I know what it is to be 
happy. Some time I mean to go far away from here, 
along the sea-coast. I want to find out whether fish 
in the creek have the same ideas as fish in the big 
water. If I have to die before I get acquainted with 
the ocean I shan’t rest.” 

This was much more of an explanation than Luther 
had ever given; Christiana appreciated the fact. 

“ Mary,” she said. I want you to come here while 
your father is away.” 

“ I have urged her to visit me,” Louisa stated, 
coldly. 

“ At home I can work faster than anywhere else. 
Aunt Christiana; and I have so many wedding orders, 
dresses as well as other things to make for three 
brides,” Mary answered. On went her weary 

[90] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


thoughts: “Nothing that I have to do has any hope 
in it. Sewing for my living, trying to have patience 
with Father, years and years of tea-parties— 

“Mary! Time to go.” 

As they all stood up Luther moved close to Louisa 
and unexpectedly put his arm around her tight. She 
gave a short shriek, and struggled; then almost im¬ 
mediately they were down near the gate, walking side 
by side and talking confidentially. 

“ After being on the edge of a quarrel all evening,” 
Christiana thought. “ Louisa has something on her 
mind; that is what makes her so crabbed; and it is 
about me.” 

It gave her great comfort and satisfaction to know 
that her companion cared enough for her to find fault 
with her ways. 

Luther was saying, in a low tone, “ Don’t do it. 
You know nothing about all this.” 

“ I do know. Since we talked it over I have heard 
from all sides that George Stroh was recognized three 
or four evenings this week in the neighborhood of 
Mount Misery.” 

“ What does tfiat prove? ” 

“With what Dan told me about the window and 
what I saw at the dance it’s enough.” 

“ What sort of fellow may Hain be, who can’t look 
after his own daughter? How did you become ac¬ 
quainted with him? ” 

“ He was at my place two years ago, on business, 
and I gave him a late supper. Once in a while he- 

[ 91 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

thought, never sounded so soft as when Christiana 
used it. 

‘‘ Along the Northkill first, for rushes. Then I 
shall camp somewhere for a while, and dry them and 
make a stock of mats; and then I shall start off. I 
don’t know how far I’ll go. It would all be spoiled 
if I knew that. How I hate a calendar! ” 

“ You like the swampy places, don’t you? ” 
Christiana, I feel the summer coming along, and 
I can’t breathe in a house. I want to tramp beside 
the creek, and have all the time there is. When I go 
wading after rushes, with the wind from far off 
running over them and the sunshine on the pools, and 
when I lie on the ground and hear the water moving 
and see the sky full of stars, I know what it is to be 
happy. Some time I mean to go far away from here, 
along the sea-coast. I want to find out whether fish 
in the creek have the same ideas as fish in the big 
water. If I have to die before I get acquainted with 
the ocean I shan’t rest.” 

_ V 

This was much more of an explanation than Luther 
had ever given; Christiana appreciated the fact. 

Mary,” she said. “ I want you to come here while 
your father is away.” 

“ I have urged her to visit me,” Louisa stated, 
coldly. 

“ At home I can work faster than anywhere else. 
Aunt Christiana; and I have so many wedding orders, 
dresses as well as other things to make for three 
brides,” Mary answered. On went her weary 

[90] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


thoughts: ^‘Nothing that I have to do has any hope 
in it. Sewing for my living, trying to have patience 
with Father, years and years of tea-parties— 

“Mary! Time to go.” 

As they all stood up Luther moved close to Louisa 
and unexpectedly put his arm around her tight. She 
gave a short shriek, and struggled; then almost im¬ 
mediately they were down near the gate, walking side 
by side and talking confidentially. 

“ After being on the edge of a quarrel all evening,” 
Christiana thought. “ Louisa has something on her 
mind; that is what makes her so crabbed; and it is 
about me.” 

It gave her great comfort and satisfaction to know 
that her companion cared enough for her to find fault 
with her ways. 

Luther was saying, in a low tone, “ Don’t do it. 
You know nothing about all this.” 

“ I do know. Since we talked it over I have heard 
from all sides that George Stroh was recognized three 
or four evenings this week in the neighborhood of 
Mount Misery.” 

“ What does t?iat prove? ” 

“With what Dan told me about the window and 
what I saw at the dance it’s enough.” 

“ What sort of fellow may Hain be, who can’t look 
after his own daughter? How did you become ac¬ 
quainted with him? ” 

“ He was at my place two years ago, on business, 
and I gave him a late supper. Once in a while he- 

[91 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


rides over and stays to a meal with me. I told you 
that the other day. I like Dan Hain.’’ 

If you think well of Dan Hain I don’t see why 
you don’t want George to go there, if that is what 
George is doing. What are you afraid of? ” 

One troublous possibility after another went through 
Louisa’s mind. She answered, sadly, I am afraid 
that sorrow will come to Christiana.” 

“ Stand by her if it does, but don’t get her all ready 
for it. Suppose he married the girl, would you want 
Christiana to start out with a prejudice? You 
couldn’t stop him any more than you could start him 
in a matter of this kind. Besides, a young man has a 
right to his mistakes.” 

Don’t you care what happens to Christiana? ” 

I do care. Christiana has been through enough,” 
Luther answered. 

‘‘ I wish you thought she should be forewarned.” 

“ I do not think so. If you tell her don’t come to 
me with any lamentations.” 

I won’t.” 

After Luther had taken a ceremonious leave, 
Christiana and Louisa stood side by side and v^atched 
the tall, flexible figure and the small, white one going 
away along the road. 

“How pretty she is in that sheer dress!” 
Christiana said. 

“ That dress has been her best for three summers. 
Well, when I am gone the dear little thing will find 
that she can have everything full and plenty,” Louisa 

[92] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


answered, and her eyes filled. 

As they went back to the benches and sat down 
again Christiana felt so rich and happy in this old 
friendship that she was all ready to laugh. 

Well? she said, teasingly. What do you 
want to say to me that Luther thinks you shouldn’t? ” 

One glance at her face and bearing strengthened 
Louisa’s opinion that here was a woman who was 
debarred by nature from hearing gossip. 

Christiana,” she said, and looked away, down 
toward the water. 

Yes? ” 

Calm though she appeared, in that pause Christiana 
was asking herself, “ Oh, what is coming? Is it that 
or this? ” 


[93] 


CHAPTER XI 


S O IT had come, thought Christiana: what she had 
been dreading had come. She lay in her large 
four-post bed, straight and dignified, covered to her 
chin with smooth white, and a moonbeam shone over 
her and made her eyes glitter. Odors of the meadows 
and of the June night and its flowers floated about her; 
she heard the clock strike and the Northkill murmur. 
If the spirits of her dead walked that night, they went 
not only to YosPs Church but to Yost’s dwelling. 
Grandfather Yost looked to his own. The fear that 
some common, hateful girl might appear any day, 
seeking George and making loud demands, had accom¬ 
panied Christiana for seven years. Now what she had 
heard from Louisa seemed to imply the worst possible, 
and she prayed. 

The next morning, however, the sun shone. Ascet¬ 
icism did not exist at Yost’s, Sunday was something of 
a holiday; and although the whole time she sat in 
church her mind was not free of the thing, the 
minister preached about trusting in the Lord. When 
she set out on her Sunday inspection, in the early 
afternoon, each step upon her own ground made her 
more serene. She went through barns and stables, 
walked from field to field of her domain and saw it 

[94] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


all prosperous. Summer had come fast. In the 
sunshine the bends of the creek shone like mirrors; 
the lindens hummed with bees; every breath of wind 
brought down a shower of locust-blossoms. There 
was peace throughout Yost’s. 

The best happiness, when one comes to die, is to 
leave a good piece of work done,” she reflected. 

Although George as manager should have been 
with her he had not presented himself. When she 
was ready for him she searched, and found him in the 
strawberry-patch, in a blaze of sunlight, selecting and 
eating berries while he meditated. He looked up as 
she approached, and began to toss three berries into 
the air and catch them. It did not seem to her then 
that matters could be bad at all. 

“ He is fully as handsome as his father. My ugly 
face did not spoil him,” she thought. 

She led the way to the front of the house, and placed 
herself where she had sat the evening before. Her 
hands lay quiet in her lap; she looked happy, as she 
really was; conscious of being surrounded by fertile, 
sunny spaces which belonged to her, and with her big 
son loafing where she could touch him if she wished. 
It was hard to begin fault-finding, he was so wonder¬ 
fully lovable; she wanted to disregard the whole 
foolish thing. 

‘‘Aunt Louisa told me some news last evening,” 
she began. 

“ What had Aunt Louisa to say? Is she still cross 
about my snuff? ” he asked, merrily. 

[95] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“No, it isn’t that. She had to tell me that you 
have been paying marked attention to a young lady. 
It seems there is much talk about a handsome saddle- 
horse, supposed to come from our place, tied in the 
woods on the east side of Mount Misery evening after 
evening.” 

George swore to himself at being so caught. As 
his mother went on to give a lightly stressed account 
not only of the dance but of Louisa’s friend’s front 
window, he swore more. 

“ A friend of Aunt Louisa? ” he inquired. 

“ Yes. I was surprised too.” 

He took a few moments to consider these revela¬ 
tions, wondering whether there were anything else of 
such importance which Eva had not told him. 

“ Why did Aunt Louisa come to you with it? ” he 
demanded. “ This is not the first girl I have gone to 
see.” 

“ Her bar-keeper came laughing, and told her that 
a conspicuous sort of a young woman, oddly dressed, 
was in religious hysterics for the preacher’s benefit, 
over in that gospel tent where they make so much noise 
in the evenings. Aunt Louisa didn’t give it a thought 
until the stranger appeared, all muddy and excited, 
with you.” 

After his exalted mood of the night, the bar-keeper! 
It shocked George that such an impression of what 
was dear to him could exist. The whole affair had 
been put before his mother in the most frightful light. 

“ What did she do to invite you in through the 

[96] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


window? Christiana inquired, with cheerful com¬ 
posure. She must have done something.’^ 

He was dumb and helpless. He could remember 
nothing about what Eva had done, or what he had 
done either. Also he perceived that he would have 
a piece of work to set all this right. 

Don’t you know? ” Christiana asked. “ You 
haven’t realized what you are about. That is why I 
speak of it. You should be careful of any young 
woman, even though she is over-willing. Secret 
meetings with you make this foolish girl the subject 
of scandalous talk. Her father is Aunt Louisa’s 
friend, and he took the trouble to bring you home. 
If Aunt Louisa were mistaken in her friend we should 
have a good chance to pay blackmail. But I want to 
hear what you have to say about it.” 

During this vigorous talk her candid eyes dwelt 
upon him with the greatest devotion; she was so 
straightforward that he was not antagonized. 

You heard a very harsh account,” he replied. 

“ Are you engaged, then, as some of the busy-bodies 
say? ” 

“ Not yet. I should have told you, very likely, 
before the day is over.” 

Ah! ” she thought. “At least he did not lie.” 

She delayed a while, and then spoke with marked 
gentleness. “ Let me hear about this young girl.” — 
“ He is used to telling me the good points of things 
he wants to acquire,” she added, to herself. 

He seized the chance, was brief, and thought he 

[97] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


understated; but to her he seemed the incarnation of 
youth and enthusiasm and joy. 

The end of his account was, You must see Eva, 
Mother. She is very beautiful.” 

“ A beauty? Must I put up with that? ” Christiana 
thought. She asked What else is she? ” 

“ She is very clever.” 

I am glad to hear that. What did you talk about 
last evening? ” 

After doing his best to recall something striking 
George answered, She recited a poem.” 

Clever enough to make you talk,” Christiana an¬ 
notated, mentally. I should rather not have a 
daughter-in-law from a two-horse farm,” she remarked. 
“ There is always a weak spot in conspicuous poverty. 
However, we can pass over that. Is she a capable 
house-keeper? ” 

She has had to be,” he answered, pitying Eva. 

Is she fond of children? ” 

“ She is altogether womanly.” 

And a good girl, George? ” 

A passionate vision flashed into his mind of the 
lovely young maiden weeping for her sins; but that 
he would not discuss. 

“ Mother,” he said. “ She is all I wish for in your 
daughter and Father’s.” 

‘‘You think your father would have taken to her, 
do you? ”‘ In one moment her manner was calm 
again, and again confusing. “ So you are sure, my 
dear, that she is the wife for you? ‘ Forsaking all 

[98] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


others, — so long as you both shall live! ^ 

“ That is how I want her.” 

‘‘You know what the Yosts have always been. 
You are heir not only to what we have but all we 
represent. You are responsible to those who are 
gone; they gave you life, they prepared for you. 
Your marriage should bring new strength to our 
family; our traditions will devolve upon your wife, 
and she will take my place.” 

“ I don’t want to think of anyone taking your place. 
You have always been the kindest mother.” He felt 
how perfectly she played her dignified part, even 
while he proceeded. “ Eva would be graceful in any 
position.” 

“ My boy, you are too certain. After an acquain¬ 
tance of only a few days you are sure that she could 
take the place of your mother.” 

At this point George found so much directness less 
agreeable in her than a little finesse. He could not 
think of the right thing to say. 

“ A week is not long enough to select a wife for my 
son. I want you to promise to wait three months; I 
want you not to communicate with her during that 
time.” 

“ Do you think I would do that? Not knowing 
who was trying to get her away from me? ” 

“ Have you met so many young men there? ” 

Now he felt completely at sea as to what his mother 
might do next; he stiffened in his determination. 

“Poor boy!” Christiana was thinking. “You 

[ 99 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


expect to form your girl; but it is much more likely 
that she would make you over! ” 

She said, “ I want you to take time. This Miss 
Hain behaves without dignity in public; she is greedy 
for pleasure; she is bold and reckless. We know all 
that. Having been always obliged to pinch, she is 
pretty sure to be a spendthrift — 

“How you run her down! It is ridiculous.’^ 

“ Now I have given you good reasons —.” 

“ I told you what I intend to do. You talk as if it 
were quite out of the question.” 

“ Didn’t you show by your own words how absurd 
all this is? ” Christiana demanded. 

She could have shaken him for being so swayed by 
tints and curves and soft attentions; but her anger 
was only momentary, it died away. For some min¬ 
utes she let him sit there sullen. 

“ All the time that you and I have been here alone 
together —.” 

Her voice was gentle. When she paused he could 
not help remembering those long, pleasant, smooth 
years, the fields turning from green to brown and 
then to white, wonderful Christmases and birthdays, 
his mother always there, at her desk on snowy after¬ 
noons, busy on the other side of the lamp while he 
learned his lessons. 

“ What have I denied you? ” she softly asked. “ I 
didn’t object even when you wanted to be a 
missionary.” 

“ No, you didn’t object. You asked me to wait, 

[ 100 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


sent me to Philadelphia, told me not to be sparing of 
money; and on the way down I wished that all the 
way-stations were heathen temples and all the passen¬ 
gers savages, so I could convert them; and when I 
came back it was not religion but music and more 
music that I had in my head.” 

“ And then I furthered that, gave you all you 
wanted, sent you away to study music. What have 
you lost by being born my son? Now I only ask for 
three months. That’s not much. Do you owe nothing, 
no loyalty, to the memory of our life together? Do 
you want to break it short off? ” 

What has that to do with this? ” 

George, listen. Since you were a little boy your 
welfare has been my only object — in everything I 
have done — God knows, in everything. Promise 
what I ask. It is due me.” 

“If you have loved me why do you want to keep 
love from me? No. My father would not have that 
right.” 

It was the first time he had ever admitted in the 
slightest that the tie to his father was the dearer tie. 
She grasped at that instantly. 

“ Would you promise your father? Are you sure he 
is not asking it of you? ” 

“ I won’t leave her. I believe she loves me. I 
won’t lose her,” he answered, violently. “ And you 
talk about loyalty! ” 

The thought, “ I should have given the same answer 
once,” almost made Christiana smile. She answered, 

[ lOI ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


If Eva Hain is ready to marry you now, how can you 
think that she would accept another man within three 
months? ’’ 

“ Oh, what do I care for all this? I won^t argue and 
reason about it.” 

“ But give her time! She has been acquainted with 
you only a week. How does she know whether or not 
she can do without you? ” 

“ I tell you I will not make that promise.” 

“ Then, my dear, I must reason for you. I forbid 
you to see this girl, write to her or communicate with 
her in any way until I give you permission.” 

You forbid? I’m a man.” 

“ And what have you? ” She looked about her, 
ostentatiously. It appears to me that Yost’s is a 
good deal to sacrifice.” 

“ Very well. I have what Father left — 

One hundred and twenty-five dollars a year,” 
Christiana said, and laughed. 

“ Oh, I’ll work! I’ll make my own way. What do 
I care? ” 

‘‘ And you think she will feel the same? My dear 
boy! ” 

“ This is all because she is poor. Mother. You were 
an important young woman.” 

He looked around, at the land his forefathers had 
cleared and the house where he had expected to live to 
the end of his life, with a famishing look. His mother, 
watching him, felt contempt for all passion. 


[ 102 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Do you expect me to put up with this? ” he 
burst out. 

No. If you did you would not be my son. We 
may leave the property out of the question,” she 
calmly answered. 

Then what are you driving at? You can’t force 
me.” 

Her countenance was quiet as a cloud; her eyes were 
pensive; but they held his changeable eyes. She said 
nothing. 

^^0-oh! ” 

“ Now you will give me your word.” 

“ I give you my word. Let me go.” 


[ 103 ] 


CHAPTER XII 


H urrying, not noticing where he walked, 
George went and sat in a willow thicket by 
the water-side. 

“ I couldnT stand out when she looked like that,” 
he thought. It was impossible.” 

His eyes fixed upon the heavy water. He was over¬ 
powered by his mother. This was not the first time 
he saw her so: once before he had encountered that 
aspect of magnetic rock. 

“ What a woman she is! A powerful woman! ” 
Before daylight the morning of hia father’s funeral 
he had been wakened by loud weeping and the solemn 
voices of strangers. The idea of death, incompre¬ 
hensible, awful death near him, drove him to hide in 
the woodhouse where he could shut himself up. He 
was hunted and found and hurried through the great 
crowd and confusion. Then he walked to church 
beside his mother in her sweeping black, with the bell 
tolling and a little sultry rain falling, and the long 
procession winding behind. Nobody having cautioned 
him not to speak, he said, “ Mother.” The word 
sounded very loud, and she did not answer, and he 
felt ashamed. 

How Father’s people lamented around the grave! 

[ 104] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


About the rest of the day he could not remember 
much. After sunset suddenly everyone was gone; his 
mother and he were quite alone at Yost’s. 

Those visitors, so many, with their good intentions 
— how did she get rid of them all? ” 

She had changed her black for a cotton working- 
dress, and had given him something to eat and told 
him to go to bed; but she did not notice whether he 
went or not, and he was afraid to go. Through the 
long dusk and by lamplight she swept and dusted, 
swept and dusted. It seemed to the child tagging after 
her that the world had stopped with his father. There 
was nothing but night and dust flying and scratchings 
of a broom. He sat on a chair until she wanted to 
move it, or fell asleep in the corner of a sofa and woke 
up and cried a little, but she never spoke. His terror 
of her, not seeing him, not hearing him, his panic at 
the sight of her stony face, was such that he did not 
know what was to become of him. When she went on 
to another room he followed, for it appeared that if he 
did not keep himself before her eyes she would forget 
him forever, and where she was not working it was 
dark. 

When she began her second task he had trotted be¬ 
side her frantically, for even while he looked straight 
at her he felt as if he were being lost, lost forever. She 
paused in one room after another, and cast her eyes 
over it, and collected things. She put together Paul 
Stroh’s clothes, his fur coat, watch and cuff-buttons; 
she brought out his guns and fishing-tackle, his hand- 

[ lOS ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


some saddle, trunk and travelling-bag. After remov¬ 
ing one picture from the wall she gathered up other 
likenesses of him which were about the house; going 
through and through his desk, she stripped it. Dozens 
of manuscripts, all his intimate belongings, books by 
the armful, the chair in which he sat to write, the chair 
that Stood at the head of the table, everything he had, 
she carried or dragged out of the house, with frightful 
energy. Then she took apart the bed on which he died. 
When all were heaped on a bare spot of ground away 
from the trees she set fire to them. 

‘‘ The things Father used every day — she destroyed 
them all, every one. She never hesitated. The fire 
was slow to catch. Then how it burned! It took a 
long time to burn out. Father was gone and she could 
not bear to live with what had been his. She was in 
agony. No one could have halted her. When she 
looks like Nthat I believe she could beat down 
anything.^’ 

Back into the house again, he after her. This time 
she opened her own desk; and she went out to the 
stable with her revolver in her hand. Paul Stroh^s 
big, cream-colored horse was asleep on his feet, but 
he woke up, and had begun to recognize her when the 
report sounded. He did not suffer: he was dead be¬ 
fore he touched the straw. 

What fear he had felt, stumbling behind her as she 
returned to her fire! It was now a heap of smoulder¬ 
ing wood, with scraps of metal and charred leather 
protruding through the ashes. While she stood look- 

[ io6 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


ing at it a robin sang. It was morning all of a sudden; 
and gradually there came over her face a smiling 
change. She had gone to the edge of the terrace, and 
tossed her wedding-ring through the white mist into 
the Northkill. 

“ The ring Father put on her hand in marriage, — 
she threw that away! Then she had nothing left of 
him but me. No one could have halted her.” 

Very slowly George’s paralysis passed away. None 
of this which had moulded him was forgotten, but he 
began to relive the night before and its beauty, he 
called up a vision of Eva and brooded over it. His 
will-power in returning hurt him like the return of 
blood to a compressed foot. He felt the rage of 
abortiveness; it made him sick. 

Three months! That means for good and all. 
Eva will not forgive it. It’s a crazy business. What 
shall I do? I can’t stand it. I must get to the Seven 
Stars.” 

By five o’clock he was drunk. 


[ 107] 


CHAPTER XIII 


E arly in the morning the next Saturday Luther 
Shell’s voice could be heard at the Crossed Keys, 
he was singing so heartily, — not any song, a solo of 
many syllables made up as he went along; it became 
less loud at moments but never stopped. He was 
dressing; his toilet did not progress rapidly, for he 
kept wandering all around the room from one thing to 
another, and much time passed while he gazed at him¬ 
self in the glass. Frogen, a blunt-headed dog, half 
collie, half bull-dog, also wandered, close to Luther’s 
feet or under them. His soft ears were alert, his plumy 
tail half-masted, his brown eyes plaintive. A walk was 
certain, a long walk; but that he would be invited was 
very uncertain. 

The word “ Father,” came gently from outside the 
door. 

Luther halted, his song ceased, his beaming face 
grew suspicious instantly. He knew what was about to 
be said and he got ready for it. 

“ Shall I put breakfast on the table? ” 

“ Mary! ” he shouted. “ I don’t want you to come 
to that door, not another time! Can’t you give me 
any peace? Let breakfast wait! Is this house run for 

[ io8 ] 


r 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

us, or do we exist to keep it going? ” As Mary’s 
footsteps retreated rapidly, he said the rest to him¬ 
self. 

After several more circumnavigations he was happy 
again, and resumed his chant. He looked young, in 
overalls faded to a beautiful blue and a black shirt 
which set off his red cheeks. When he had quite 
finished dressing he stood a while and contemplated 
some treasures. Arranged on a chair, they made an in¬ 
teresting still-life full of angles and curves; they were 
a hat, a stick, a pouch and an oilcloth-covered pack 
strapped to a board. And with them he was about to 
live a romance. Though he knew everything in the 
pouch intimately he emptied it and made a thorough 
inspection: knives, scissors, needles, thread and twine, 
all sharp or tough as they ought to be. He replaced 
them. 

He was bustling toward the door, singing gayly, 
when a doubt insinuated itself into his mind and made 
him go back again. His song sank to a hum; he felt 
all over the neat pack and dug it with his thumbs. 
Then he called, Mary! ” 

What’s wrong, Father? ” she answered, hurrying 
through the hall. 

Did I put in my shears? ” 

Aren’t they here anywhere? ” 

Luther’s eyes became very bright blue, his face red. 
I hate an uncertain answer. Now must I get 
down on my knees and unstrap — ? ” 

No, Father, I’ll look.” 

[ 109] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Don’t you do it! Touch that pack and you’ll 
spoil it. Darn the luck! ” 

“ Do you remember where the shears were? ” 

I think I saw them on the bureau,” Luther said, 
with long pauses. “ Between my tobacco and my 
spectacle-case. Now had I those shears there? Oh, 
thunderation! ” 

I’ll give you mine. It’s a good pair,” Mary said, 
trying not to laugh. 

‘‘ I won’t do that. I won’t do that at all. Then I’ll 
find mine, and I’ll have two pairs. I want to take 
everything I need, and nothing else. Last night when 
I strapped it I thought that this was the neatest pack 
I ever made up.” Uttering these remarks in a loud, 
monotonous voice and looking very angry, Luther 
stamped across the floor and stamped back. Then he 
stopped. “ What’ll I do? ” he asked, mournfully. 

“ Leave it as it is; and if you don’t find your shears 
buy new ones.” 

“ They wouldn’t be good.” 

Can’t you remember? Where do you think yours 
are? ” 

I don’t think they are an3rwhere! ” Luther wildly 
cried. “ I don’t know one thing about it, whether I 
had them here, or whether I hadn’t them at all.” He 
began to swear, oldfashioned profanity. 

‘‘ It’s a mystery to me why you want shears,” Mary 
said, flaring up. 

Eh? That’s plain enough.” 

It’s not plain to me. If you choose to go off and 

[ no ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


live like a tramp for two or three months why not 
do it consistently? I wouldn’t make mats. I wouldn’t 
take a toothbrush or anything.” 

She marched out of the room. Luther, grinning, 
began laboriously to undo his pack. Before he had 
it open she was back again. 

I’m sorry. Father.” 

“ All right, all right.” 

Father dear, I wish you wouldn’t go.” 

“ You have two invitations to visit,” Luther grunted. 

“ I’d rather stay in my own home.” 

And you think I ought to want the same. Like a 
great many people you mistake your personal prefer¬ 
ences for the moral law. Now I don’t hanker after 
my own home at present. Go for a walk, Frogen? ” 

Won’t you at least spend the nights decently at 
hotels? Don’t sleep in the fields and beg from the 
farmers’ wives. And take another suit for Sundays.” 

“ Mary, there is one house where they call me the 
Erl-king. They think I am so quaint. Isn’t that 
nice? Being the Erl-king I couldn’t go to a hotel; 
and it is late in the day to urge me to keep Sunday, 
in my clothes or otherwise. There! There are my 
shears. I had them all the time.” 

Father,” said Mary, desperately. “ You know it 
will not be good for you.” 

Why not? ” 

He glared at her so that she could not venture to 
say why not, or to hint at what he would be doing off 
and on. Dejectedly she went out of the room, away 

[III] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


to another part of the house, to escape from her 
father’s piercing snorts. A knock at the front door 
changed the direction of her steps. 

The caller, whom she had never happened to meet 
before, kept his back toward the Crossed Keys, and 
she glanced past him and saw Louisa Fry on her own 
porch, much interested in that deliberate back. At 
the gate there was a shabby carriage, and in it a girl 
whose strained attitude and feverish look suggested 
something blighted at the time of bloom. 

That’s she,” Mary thought, and turned her eyes 
away. 

She had heard the gossip, plenty of it, since Battalion 
Day. Now her politeness was mechanical. What 
Daniel Hain asked made no impression on her. He 
did not seem embarrassed, but as he went back to the 
carriage he looked anywhere except in the direction 
of Louisa Fry. The beauty when he approached her 
refused to move. 

You wanted to come,” he said, gently. 

I don’t want to stay.” 

You wouldn’t be satisfied unless you could drive 
to Middleport and see the weaver yourself.” 

“ Oh, what do I care about the weaver? ” 

If you are not pleased, at least behave sensibly. 
I left my work to bring you here. Be amiable to 
oblige me.” 

I can’t. I can’t!” 

“ Can’t what? Listen, Eva. You must show some 
dignity. You have a home and a father to take care 

. [ II2 ] 


, THE HOUSE OF YOST 


of you, and you need not depend on anyone else.” 

This was the first time Daniel had implied that he 
understood what she had been about, and her present 
pretext for getting to George Stroh’s neighborhood. 
She stepped down from the carriage. Her eyes were 
like those of a wild and miserable cat or something 
equally without knowledge of how to suffer. After 
one glance at Mary, without noticing the surroundings, 
she relapsed into indifference. Daniel, surmising a 
great deal, had had three anxious weeks. Now came 
a moment of pleasure. He saw the garden lying in 
sunshine and full of ruffly little roses, pinks and corn¬ 
flowers ; the air smelt of dewy herbs, and he drew deep 
breaths. Mary’s small house, plastered pink with 
green woodwork, was hardly more opulent than Mount 
Misery; but to him the dustless room into which she 
conducted them seemed elegant as well as homelike, 
and it made him think hopefully of his own plans. 
Through the deep windows the hot morning light 
looked cool; the wainscoting was green, the wooden 
furniture painted the same shade and decorated with 
little designs of fruit. Daniel possessed an eye for 
skill and nicety: he observed the macrame cover on 
the well-used piano, the rug knitted of many narrow 
strips of silk useless for any other purpose, and the 
framed wreath of lilies made of white feathers. 
Trousseau-work spread out on the table attracted Eva, 
and with an irritable and capricious air she began to 
finger the crocheted lace and patient tucks. Mary 
frowned a little. She repressed a great deal of excite- 

[ 113 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

merit as she went on her dangerous mission to her 
father. 

The pack had been strapped, but there was still no 
peace for Frogen, for Luther had resumed his parad¬ 
ing about. He looked all ready to explode. 

Father,” Mary said, in her very gentlest way, not 
to disturb his sensibilities. “ There are people waiting 
to see you.” 

Who? ” 

“ I don’t know them. I think they are Aunt 
Louisa’s friend Daniel Hain and his daughter. I think 
I have seen him come and go at the Crossed Keys.” 

‘‘You think! What brings them here? ” 

“ I believe they want carpet,” she admitted. 

“ Mary! Why did you let them in? Didn’t I tell 
you not ten minutes ago that I am going to start 
immediately? ” 

“ Father, they will hear you.” 

“Let them hear me! I don’t care who hears me. 
All the time I have wasted already! Because you said 
I ought to wait for settled weather. And day before 
yesterday, a beautiful day too, you took away my boot 
to be patched. It was so unnecessary! ” 

“ We are not sure what they want.” 

“ Whatever it is, I won’t do it. I am going to have 
my own way for once if I am an old man.” 

“ Father, when you call yourself old it sounds silly. 
Y"ou look like a handsome man of forty except when 
you are out of humor.” 

“ I am-not out of humor. You have made up your 

[ 114 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


\ 


mind that I must stay at home and work at that 
rattling old loom.’’ He kicked the loom, and it shook. 
“ I wouldn’t make another carpet — ! How many 
times must I tell you to go and get rid of those 
people? ” 

I won’t do that, no matter how often you tell me.” 

Out she sailed, with her head high; and Luther felt 
quite proud of her, and followed promptly. He 
observed the beauty, the sombre man, and the carriage 
at the gate, and reflected, “ What an unpleasant dis¬ 
position that girl appears to have! That’s a stylish 
turnout. Not a thing been done to it since he used 
it for courting.” 

Daniel inquired whether they could have some carpet 
woven. 

You come at the wrong time. I am going away,” 
Luther answered, roughly. “ Anyhow I work as a 
favor only.” 

“ My daughter would like to have one of your 
carpets. She has heard that you make them very 
handsome. I’ll leave the materials, and you can do 
the work when you come home. How long will you 
be away? ” ^ 

I store no materials,” Luther retorted. 

Eva watched this display with fascination, leaving 
the business entirely to her father. For a moment 
they all four stood stiffly in their places. 

I don’t know you anyhow,” Luther went on, 
working himself up. 


[ IIS ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ That^s nothing against us. What are you so mad 
about? 

“ He is not at all impressed by Father/’ Mary 
thought; and now she was fascinated. 

The thwarted gentleman delayed to answer because 
he could not at once think what he wanted to say. To 
express the vehemence of his feelings he needed some¬ 
thing that would be a broadside. The right thing 
came to him in a moment. “ You’re a puppy, sir. A 
puppy! ” 

Daniel started toward him promptly. 

Why! Don’t strike me! ” Luther remonstrated; 
and the other halted, lowering his fist but looking 
threatening. Luther regarded him with astonishment, 
and then said, half courteously, About the weaving 
I’ll see you again.” 

Daniel glanced at Mary, and felt so sorry for her 
that he made no answer except, Come, Eva.” 

Luther turned his back on everybody in the world 
and departed from the room. Eva went and sat in 
the carriage. Her moment of amusement at the queer 
little scene was over, once more her mood was dark. 
With the idea of putting what had passed quite into 
the background, Daniel stayed a few minutes to talk 
to Mary and introduce himself. When he took leave, 
there in full view over the way was Louisa Fry. Both 
visitors persisted in not seeing her, and as soon as 
they had driven off she came hastening across the 
road. 

Mary intercepted her, and they went round to the 

[ ii6 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


narrow porch tacked to the ell, the most secluded 
corner to be found. There they sat on the steps and 
began to talk in whispers. 

Is your father excitable this morning? 

“ Yes.’’ 

“ Is he going? ” 

“ He says so. Aunt Louisa, you saw who was here. 
Why didn’t they speak to you? ” 

I’m not offended. I suppose Daniel doesn’t wish 
his family to know that he rides over here occasionally. 
Poor fellow, I believe that a supper at my house is the 
only vacation he ever gets. As for her, you may be 
sure she is not anxious to have her father come any¬ 
where near me now. He might hear how she behaves 
at dances. I suppose they wanted carpet? ” 

Mary did not answer. She began to listen for 
sounds in the house. Everything was quiet, with the 
oppressive quiet of a sunny, hot morning. 

It seems so still,” she exclaimed. I must see 
what has become of Father.” 

She hurried through the empty rooms. In the gar¬ 
den Frogen was lying against the gate, looking as if 
he would burst into tears if he could. The woods had 
quietly received Luther with his pack and stick, 
escaping to his swamps by way of the Seven Stars and 
other such pleasant stopping-places. 

Why, what’s the matter, Mary, child? ” Louisa 

asked. 

“ Father has gone without telling me.” 

Mary sat down again on the steps. For many 

[ 117 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


days and nights she had been facing things as they 
•were. In the small occurrences of the last hour or 
two she had taken her necessary part, and now she 
began to feel what some of their results were likely to 
be; that knowledge came with a rush. 

I donT think George will be happy/’ was the one 
comment she made in her own mind. She pressed her 
hand slightly against her eye-lids. 

Louisa, a solitary woman with no one in particular 
to be a recipient of her affection, made the most of her 
friends and put them into the places of the kin she 
had not. 

Mary,” she said, like a mother. Mary, women 
get over it. You may be sure it’s true when I tell 
you — women get over it.” 


[ii8] 


CHAPTER XIV 


HERE are three more days in this June. Yet 



X why should I wish it to pass? I expect nothing 
in July,’^ Eva thought. 

Her calm look did not change, it remained fixed like 
the smile of a statue. She sat drooping, with a bowl 
of wild strawberries in her lap. She and Helen, 
settled on stools under the grape-arbor, were at work, 
and the little red fruit fell through their fingers as 
steadily as the tick of a clock; several tin kettles piled 
with berries, wonderfully red and sweet, waited to be 
hulled. In every breeze the grape-leaf shadows 
danced. It was still early in the morning, and quiet 
except for a joyful wren. 

These are solid. See how little waste,’’ Eva said. 
“ We shall have pounds of fine preserves with no 
expense except for the sugar.” 

It took us five hours to pick them,” Helen 
remarked. While her hands moved fast her attitude 
was that of a person in apprehension resting while 
she could. 

“ That is one of your ideas, to count our work as 
part of the expense. We should be busy at something 
anyhow.” 

We should indeed.” With her reddish braids and 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


the soft, youthful oval of her cheek Helenas expression 
was too sombrely mature, the result of much pent-up 
thinking. Father and all of us work from morning 
until night for enough to eat and a place to sleep; then 
we eat and sleep so that we can work again. We are 
like cats chasing our own tails; and I wonder what 
makes us keep on. I don’t know who gets anything 
out of it.” 

Not you and I. This isn’t a home, it’s a jail.” 

Dear Eva! ” 

I like work if there is any hope in it; but there is 
nothing ahead except scraping and pinching.” 

I’m sure that what you want — .” 

I’m done with wanting. Don’t you know that you 
and I are here for good and all, and that we are going 
to drudge until we are all spoiled? Why were we 
born? ” 

I have wondered that myself often enough. But' 
you, so pretty — .” 

“ That! It wasn’t enough to keep him. I was so 
happy; you don’t know how happy I was with him. 
Everything I desire in the world — and it’s gone! ” 
Even while she kept sternly on with the strawberries 
tears poured down Eva’s cheeks. “ Oh, I wish I 
could leave this place where he used to come! I can’t 
forget him for one minute.” 

“ Dearest, how could we do without you? I should 
like to kill that man.” 

He is not to blame. Something kept him away. 
I don’t know what, but something happened, I 

[I20] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


couldn^t expect him to think of me when I was out 
of his sight, could I? Why, he can pick and choose; 
any girl would be overjoyed. If I had met him that 
day when I coaxed Father into taking me to Middle- 
port, when I was so sure I should have good fortune! 
Now he has forgotten me.” 

“ And yet she thinks of him. Well, I know nothing 
about love,” Helen reflected. 

There seemed to be no more to say. They went on 
with their work, and the wren twitched his tail and 
sang his little song over and over again. 

Helen,” said Eva, after a while. 

Although she spoke tranquilly she was concealing a 
great access of energy. To the sadness which had to 
be endured passively accrued the driving anxiety of a 
desperate purpose which she formed all of a sudden. 

“ It^s my whole life. Why should I sit still and see 
it go wrong? ” 

Helen waited. 

Could you get through alone today? ” 

Yes. Don’t you think about the work. Where 
are you going? ” 

It will be better if I don’t tell you.” 

Dear, you will not be reckless? ” 

No. If I come meekly home again, at least I shall 
have done all I could to save myself.” 

“ Wherever it is, I want you to go.” 

Dear little soul! You are the best sister.” 

Eva flew upstairs. She found herself taking care 
to make no noise as she dressed, although her father 

[ I2I ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and Sylvester were working three or four fields away. 
When she had escaped from the house she nearly ran 
into them, and hearing their voices she hid in a clump 
of sumach, her heart in her mouth. After that luck 
was with her. No sooner had she reached the road 
at the foot of the hill than an old man came along in 
a cart; he was going to Middleport, and he was willing 
to take her with him. At first she feared that he would 
question her, but he did not speak twenty words. For 
days and weeks she had not felt so at ease as she did 
then, driving silently along. She was on the way; and 
to compel her fate to declare itself was an inspiring 
idea, as good as happiness. Even the weather gave 
her hope — weather in which to take long chances 
with a light heart. The sky was as intensely blue 
as if fire had been mixed with it. No mist obscured 
the mountains; every peak and ridge stood out clear 
in the sunshine. With a good wind blowing from 
the northwest a succession of waves passed over the 
brilliantly colored grain-fields, and the leaves on the 
trees turned up their light green undersides. Where 
the road went through woodland the little pyrola in 
blossom made the air sweet; hundreds of orange- 
colored lilies bloomed in the fence-corners, and butter¬ 
fly-weeds had burst into flame. 

The time until they reached the Northkill bridge 
seemed short. She asked to be set down there, and 
the old man and the cart went slowly on. She stood 
a few minutes, looking at the red roofs of Middleport 
and at the road to Yost’s, then across the expanse 

[ 122 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


of Christiana’s meadows, submerged in sunshine, 
traversed by the fragrant wind, arched by the sky. 
Haying was in progress; everybody was working hard. 
The mowing-machine moved along with a loud hum, 
guided by the foreman, whose gray beard covered his 
breast. Girls bent over their rakes; a number of men 
were trimming out the fence-corners with scythes, and 
others tossed bunches of hay from their pitch-forks to 
the wagons, which went off top-heavy, with much 
rattling, toward the mows. From somewhere near a 
willow-tree came a very clear, strong whistle. 

Eva loitered only long enough to see the lay of the 
land; then with the thrill of starting a hard game for 
a high stake she started to walk across the fields and 
catch up with the foreman. When she called to him 
he did not look at her, being annoyed at having to 
stop. 

^‘Here! Take that wagon over to that north 
corner,” he shouted. “ Well, what’ll you have? ” 
Can I get work here? ” 

“ Work? It’s late for you to start,” he said, looking 
at her hard. We don’t need any more hands.” 

I couldn’t come earlier. If you want to get this 
big crop in before the storm you will need every hand 
you can hire.” 

“ How do you know there will be a storm? ” 

By the air, and the thunder-heads. You know it 
too. I saw how you are driving your people.” 

The Bible speaks against hiring laborers at dif¬ 
ferent hours of the day. It isn’t fair to those who 

[ 123 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


begin work at the regular time.” 

“ The Bible says the employer can do as he pleases 
with his own. I’ll take less money than the others 
though.” 

“ I never saw you before.” 

I’m a good worker.” 

Well, I’d hire you; but you must deal with the 
boss. You needn’t be afraid of him. Over there he 
sits, on the fence in the shade, and whistles. That’s 
the way he works; and so would I if I were in his 
place. He sees how everything is done, and thinks of 
better ways to do it, and he makes twice as much 
money as if he drove his own mowing-machine and 
did no thinking. See, there he comes, to find out why 
I am wasting my time.” 

With a shout to his horses the foreman started off, 
but he kept looking back to see what would happen 
between the spectacular stranger, standing alone with 
the eyes of girls and men upon her, and George Stroh, 
who came leisurely across the field. He halted. His 
cheerful music stopped short. 

But he could whistle,” Eva thought; and she 
felt fiery. 

At sight of Eva, George wanted to spring toward 
her. She was more than he had remembered; his 
dazed eyes delighted in her, he beheld her with such 
shame and joy that he failed to understand what she 
said. 

“ Will you employ me? ” she repeated. 

“You want to work here in the fields? Why, I 

[ 124 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


couldn^t let you work in the fields.” 

She gave him a look which defied him to recall 
anything. “ Shall I come back with references? ” 

Oh, that^s unnecessary. Go with the rest.” 

He sauntered off, his face dark red. She did as 
she was told, imperturbably. At first the other girls 
were inclined to whisper among themselves; but they 
began to like her because she showed herself so com¬ 
panionable when one of them stumbled into a spring 
and when they encountered a snake. Hard as she 
worked, she did not feel it; she had little adventures 
with a meadow-lark’s nest and a family of baby 
rabbits, and all the time her heart was beating, “ Mine 
again, mine again! He saw me, and it was enough; 
I knew it would be. I can make him suffer. He is 
suffering now. No more whistling. How soon will he 
give in? How soon shall I forgive him? He may 
keep on being furious until noon, but then he will 
have to see me again, and sit at the same table.” 

When the noon bell rang and the haymakers began 
to stream out of the fields she held back, keeping 
with the other girls. On the way toward the house 
she viewed it attentively. It was larger and more 
imposing than she had expected. 

As they all went in together she laid her hand 
lightly on the door-frame, with the thought, I am 
entering his house for the first time. I had to make 
him angry today; but I will never hurt him again.” 

Composed as a kingfisher waiting on a branch, she 
stood in a corner all by herself and looked about her. 

[ 125 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Here was the other extreme from Mount Misery and 
its penury. The spacious kitchen at YosFs served the 
same purposes as a baron’s hall. With the shutters 
bowed at all the windows it was cool and shady even 
on this hot day; every surface shone that could be 
made to shine, and the dresser glittered. Although 
Christiana’s mother had acquired a stove when that 
was an advanced fashion, the fire-place had never been 
changed, and it proved that the family had lived well 
for generations, for a sheep could have been roasted 
in it easily. Four tables placed in a row made a long 
expanse of white linen, and women with full dishes 
kept coming from the summer-kitchen and going back 
in a placid procession. The lavish supply of food 
delighted Eva’s soul. 

“ There is more variety here than we poor sinners 
at Mount Misery ever had at Christmas,” she thought. 

What a beautiful, beautiful household! Here they 
don’t need to make one utensil do the work of three. I 
don’t believe they would know how. All this he and 
his mother have; and they didn’t earn it.” 

Christiana entered presently, with cool pink cheeks 
and a crisp lavender cotton gown. The foreman at 
once placed himself in attendance upon her. She sur¬ 
veyed the room and everyone in it pleasantly. 

“That is his mother. How she carries herself! ” 
Eva thought. 

She was still gazing when Christiana caught sight of 
her across the room; the eyes of the two women met 
like the eyes of two champions facing each other with 

[ 126 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


grounded spears. Eva reflected that she was much 
the younger, and courteously looked away first. 

George will come at any moment now,” she 
thought. 

I like to work here,” said a confidential voice be¬ 
hind her. I come whenever they need extra help. 
They give us everything so full and plenty; and we 
have more freedom than at other places, because the 
bosses are not about at mealtime. They eat in the 
dining-room. Mrs. Stroh is wonderfully high-toned. 
Not a stitch on her that isn’t bought in stylish stores.” 

“ I can wait,” Eva thought. 

During the hilarious dinner she felt like a disguised 
princess about to dazzle the populace. She wondered 
what was going on in the dining-room, from which no 
voices could be heard, nothing except once or twice 
the opening and closing of the door. There was no 
conversation between Christiana and George. Both 
were deep in thought. His bright hopes that in the 
course of the three months his mother would be brought 
in some natural way to consent had ended when Eva 
took matters into her own hands and presented herself. 
Now he reflected that the two women, meeting in this 
way without his agency, might perhaps win each 
other; and he was waiting, but the hope was frail. 

After the meal Christiana leaned back in her chair, 
observed him for a moment, and asked, “Did you 
bring Eva Hain here? ” 

“ I did not.” 

“ How does it happen that she is here? ” 

[ 127 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ She came and asked for work.’’ 

She came to the fields herself? Indeed! When I 
saw this strange bird among our girls I suspected you, 
George. I was mistaken. Did you employ her? ” 

“ I did not drive her off the place.” 

Christiana too had had a hope, that George’s feelings 
might prove superficial; but after going over the whole 
affair in her mind many times she had at last softened 
enough to say to herself that if he did not change in 
the three months she would reconsider. It mortified 
her to find how out of date that painful concession of 
hers was, at this stage, with the bold girl actually on 
hand; and she felt herself being hurried, by an 
inferior. 

Well,” she said. “ Let her finish the day.” 

“ Poor little thing, no doubt she needs the money.” 

“ Now you see what she is.” 

I do see what she is.” Mentally he added one 
adoring adjective after another. Although he uttered 
none of them, Christiana knew well enough what sort 
they were. 

You gave me your word. Don’t forget it,” she 
said. 

Not likely. You were sure I had broken it, weren’t 
you? ” 

Although he hated her way of obtruding her hold 
upon him, he was sorry he had made that speech, she 
looked so hurt. He spoke with what tenderness he 
could. 

Mother, all this is absurd between you and me. 

[ 128 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


We are spoiling everything. I should not have made 
that promise. No, listen to me; don’t treat me like 
this. You don’t seem to care what kind of a life I 
have.” 

So you think I don’t care? ” 

“ Then free me from that damned unmanly promise. 
Will you? ” 

I will not.” 

But you don’t know Eva. Will you let me bring 
her to you? ” 

“ No.” She paused. “ Dear does not begin to 
express what you are to me, George. I kept you from 
the fire when you were little, and I will keep you from 
this now.” 

Very well, if that is your view of it. I won’t 
break my word; but, mind you, it is for three months.” 
He thought how it might be at the end of that time, 
when his home would perhaps be lost to him, for 
his mother might go so far, and when Eva would dis¬ 
dain him — how could she do otherwise if after 
deserting her he ignored her today? His face turned 
gray, but he proceeded steadily. Then I shall 
expect your consent.” 

“ I will never consent.” 

Christiana regarded him, and thought, So men 
really suffer as much as that? He feels all that, and 
for a woman? ” Suddenly she felt fear, so acute that 
she could scarcely keep it out of her face — fear of 
that beauty which was drawing him away, that ruthless 
force of nature. “ Flesh of my flesh, there he stands. 

[ 129 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


How far off is he from me? The pain she under¬ 
went was slow but nauseating, and it was in the most 
secret recesses of her heart. With baffled but inde¬ 
structible devotion she touched him gently, and left 
him. 

What became of him she did not know; and while 
she was in no doubt that the leash would hold she 
wanted to see that it was holding, so she went to the 
fields herself. When the stately woman in lavender 
came walking across the stubble, pitchforks and rakes 
moved faster; the gossiping group round the buckets, 
full of the harvesters^ drink made of sugar, water and 
vinegar, dispersed to work; the little stir among the 
girls made Eva glance up. Back in the field again, 
she had kept a secret lookout, but there was no sign 
of George; and as the afternoon crawled by she had 
stopped saying to herself, How soon will he come? 
She worked stolidly along, and tried to think of 
nothing. With every quarter of an hour that passed 
she lost a little more hope. That those few minutes, 
which she used to repel him, had been her last sight of 
him, that she had played her high card and met 
outrageous luck — it was necessary for her to admit 
that to herself. Now it suited her to work lazily, and 
not to raise her eyes; but her tableau of indifference 
fell short, she would have had altogether as good 
opportunities to interest those at Yost’s if she had 
stayed at home, for Christiana neither noticed nor 
avoided her. 

Well satisfied at not seeing George anywhere, his 

[ 130 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


mother stayed a while, inspected the hay and spoke 
to some of the girls. She observed that the air and 
the light were changing. The heat had grown intense; 
not a leaf moved; the pattering of the grasshoppers 
jumping about the stubble sounded loud. As clouds 
like white and dove-colored veils drew themselves 
delicately across the sky the sunlight became more and 
more dim, all the green hues in grass and trees turned 
dull, and the Blue Mountain looked leaden. 

Christiana joined the foreman, who was surveying 
the prospect above him. “ Trouble coming? ” she 
asked. 

“ Look. I’ve been afraid of it ever since morning.” 

“ Can they get in all the hay before the rain? ” 
Hardly. The heat has tired them out.” 

Try it. Tell them there will be extra pay for each 
one if they beat the storm.” 

I will. Why couldn’t this have waited? I never 
can resign myself to the fact that we farmers are so 
powerless over the weather.” 

Don’t waste time talking.” 

Christiana herself began to rake vigorously, and the 
foreman worked like two men, saving again and again, 
''You must get it in! You must! ” All over the 
fields the pace quickened; not an unnecessary word 
passed. The loss of that hay was a calamity which 
everyone desired to avert, though it was not their hay. 
Dead tired, with garments clinging to their wet bodies, 
they raced with the weather; while the storm-clouds 
boiled up and the sky grew darker, they rushed load 

[ 131 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


after load to the barns. The foreman became so 
exhilarated that he leaped like a boy on the tongue of 
an empty wagon and coasted down the slope from the 
mow. Eva, pale with the heat, sped furiously at her 
job. 

Instead of coming straight on the storm curved 
westward in its course and gathered around Thunder 
Mountain, which turned the color of a purple plum. 
Then sheets of gray rain almost hid the peak, far¬ 
away roarings were followed by great crashes, and 
streaks of lightning flew across the sky. A few drops 
fell on the haymakers, no more. From the stormy 
quarter a wind rose, making the air fresh and acrid 
and shoving the clouds away. The laborers saw one 
blue patch and another above their heads. 

^^Hail! I smell it,” said the foreman. ‘‘There 
will be no rain here. Well, well! The storm fooled 
us, and you must give them extra wages for nothing.” 

“ They have done well, and they are ready to drop,” 
Christiana answered. “ Give them their money now, 
and let them have this half hour to rest before supper.” 

“ ril do that.” 

“ How good the cold wind feels! Life-giving! ” 

The order to stop work was passed, and the wages 
were paid. The day being at an end, Eva went away, 
in her hand the silver which was all she would get. 
While the haymakers lingered at supper the storm 
entirely disappeared; the sky, swept of clouds, was a 
pale, clear blue above the silvery tan stubble-fields, 
and swallows began to dip and fly over the creek. 

[ 132 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Later a little crowd of men and girls came leisurely to 
take in the hay that had been left. These people were 
permanently employed at Yost’s, so the talk was 
intimate, with teasing, coquetry and plans for Sunday. 
The foreman shook his head and said, Ei, ei, ei! ” 
over the richness of the crop; the two shepherd-dogs 
who had accompanied their friends looked on benignly. 
They all went home rejoicing, following the last load, 
with the dogs at the head of the procession and the 
west bright gold and rosy. 

The fields were left alone; as it grew darker they be¬ 
gan to look pallid, and along the fences the elderberry 
blossoms were white as frost-flowers. Under the trees 
near the house the girls sat resting and singing songs 
generations old. 

Someone came silently out from among the willows 
and began to walk, up one way and down another, 
around and about, moving as if driven by a wind. In 
her wanderings she came to a very old willow with 
branches that drooped almost to the ground; and she 
went back and forth near it for a while, circled it, and 
stopped. George was lying there, with one arm across 
his face. While she stood transfixed, looking down at 
him, he uncovered his eyes and regarded her. 

Are you here? ” she said, sadly. 

She sat down under the tree, and he moved nearer 
to her. 

What happened? ” she asked. 

“ I thought you would have nothing more to do with 

me.” 


[ 133 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Why did you leave me? 

“ It^s not my fault, I swear, Eva.’^ 

Whose fault then? ’’ 

My mother got a promise out of me,” he answered, 
with shame. 

“ Why, he hasn^t grown up! ” Eva thought. Quite 
tenderly she said, You have not broken any promise. 
This was my doing. So your mother doesn’t like me? ” 

“ She doesn’t know you.” 

Goodbye.” 

Oh, don’t! ” 

“ What else can I do? ” 

“ My mother has something in her which subdues 
everyone. Even when she appears to agree with me 
she seems to get behind my will and pry it loose. I 
know I was a cowardly fool to make that promise.” 

“ And what about me? ” 

He said nothing. 

“ George,” she asked, presently. “ Have you for¬ 
gotten those evenings on the hill? We met again and 
again; only to be together made us happy; and did we 
promise each other nothing by that? Was all our 
happiness and confidence less than a few common 
words? Then it was no more than a pastime to you. 
It bound me faster than all the words in the world.” 

She spoke wistfully. He raised himself up; he had 
dreaded several things, but he began to hope once more. 
It seemed that even to be cut off from home would not 
be hard if he were sure of her. He wanted to look 
and look at her, but she had turned her face away, 

[ 134] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and there were tears on it. 

Oh, I should not let you see me like 'this,’’ she 
faltered. 

Lose her he could not. In his anxiety he spoke 
baldly: I promised only for three months. Then 
I’m coming to Mount Misery for you. What do we 
care for the consequences? ” 

After one minute, in which she comprehended this, 
Eva rose and without a word set out across the field. 
He ran after her. 

Eva, the day the three months are up I’ll be there, 
begging you to marry me.” 

Don’t dare to come to Mount Misery.” 

“ What? ” 

“You ‘thought you could drop me for three months 
because of her whim, and after that pick me up again. 
Not me! ” 

“ Is there somebody else? ” 

“ Oh, very likely. I hope your promise-keeping will 
be paid well. Yost’s is a nice place.” 

For some seconds he was as incandescent as she. 
Then suddenly he became quite self-possessed; he 
stood before her in one of his courtly attitudes. 

“ Eva, do you remember what I told you about the 
red-haired woman? There was one thing I did not 
tell you. When I was sixteen I resolved not to ask 
what I am asking now until I found a girl who could 
outshine her. I have been waiting for you a long 
time.” 

“Your promise: what about it?” 

[ 13s ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 
Will you? » 

She drew her hand across her eyes, feeling humble 
and a little sick, feeling also that they should not rush 
through this moment of great dignity 

I^m nothing, and I have nothing of my own to 
offer you; but won’t you, dearest? ” 

“ George, it’s you I want. It’s you.” 


# 


[ 136] 


CHAPTER XV 



HE whippoorwill was calling, with a sound like 


i rending silk, when Eva walked back slowly with 
George across the fields. To tell his mother and have 
it over was what he now wanted: he was so happy 
that anything unpropitious seemed impossible; and 
Eva was ready. As they came near the house, a 
long beam of light from the north window shone 
between the trees, and they saw Christiana’s ruddy 
face illuminated by the lamp. A ledger, account- 
books and a wealthy wallet were spread out on her 
black walnut secretary; she was evidently making 
calculations fast and setting down nothing but the 
results. 

When the door opened she glanced up, and there 
stood the two together. They were a vivid pair, able 
to carry everything before them. 

This is Eva, Mother.” 

George announced it with great elation and a good 
deal of manner. At this moment his mother had no 
hold on him. 

How do you do? ” Christiana said, politely. 
“ Daniel Hain’s daughter, aren’t you? ” she added, to 
soften it, because the objectionable girl looked so 
frightened. 


[ 1371 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Eva would have liked to respond, and to step 
forward, but she did not dare. “ Oh, I will forget that 
cruel promise! ’’ she thought, and waited, trembling. 

It seemed to George impossible that with the lovely, 
timid girl there before her his mother would not be 
reasonable and joyfully accept what was offered. 

Mother, it’s your daughter.” 

“Are you married? ” Christiana inquired, watching 
him, with her head on one side. 

“ Not yet. In a month.” 

“ My son! ” Christiana said to herself. She grasped 
the facts slowly, being in great pain. “ He gave me 
his word, and he has broken it. And for this common 
girl! His strongest motives are sensual.” Not to let 
her inferior perceive her dismay was the one faint 
satisfaction she could still have. She forced herself 
to hold out her hand. 

“ This is quite a surprise,” she said. 

As Eva shook hands she bit the inside of her own 
lip to keep it steady. She was dumb; there seemed to 
be nothing to say. Christiana at the same time was 
foreseeing how it would be with George as he grew 
older, how he would shrink into himself, away from 
this woman’s unkindness; and she, his mother, who 
would protect him from anything, would then be dead. 

After explaining more than once that now he would 
take Eva home George conducted her out of the room. 
They had not been in it five minutes. 

“ Mother is always quiet,” he said. 

“ I see.” 


[138] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ When she knows Eva she will be reconciled,” he 
thought. ‘‘ Then it may go very well.” Christiana’s 
tones had been placid, in her face none of the formi¬ 
dableness he remembered; and such a superficial little 
conversation might mean anything, it might even mean 
what he so much desired. 

He drove away with Eva, choosing a long and 
roundabout way. The horses trotted through the little 
valleys. The two did not say much; they looked 
vaguely into the sweet darkness, and it seemed that 
there was no time beyond that hour, and they the only 
human beings in the world. 

When the wheels began to jar over the rough hill 
road. Mount Misery could no longer be avoided. As 
Eva was stepping out of the carriage a figure separated 
itself from the shadows of the porch and came forward. 

That’s my father waiting for me,” she whispered, 
with a sort of contemptuous fear. 

We’ll tell him.” 

“ It will save trouble.” 

Daniel said, I thought so. Eva, go in.” 

Eva has promised to marry me in a month,” George 
informed him. I will take the best care of her. 
We can talk business another time.” 

Um-hm,” said Daniel, not dazzled at all. 

After waiting a while George said, patiently, “ Please 
give me some answer.” 

“ How did you become acquainted with him, Eva? ” 

As she would so soon be free from her father’s 
jurisdiction she was not afraid to tell the facts, some 

[ 139 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


of which were already well enough known to him. 
She told them freely, and by the time she had finished 
with the details she was quite gay. 

So you have been deceiving me? ’’ was DaniePs 
comment. He addressed George: You say you will 
take good care of her. Did you take care of her on 
Battalion Day, when you set the whole crowd against 
her? And since? ’’ 

When she heard that, Eva disregarded George, who 
had begun to answer angrily; she walked abruptly 
away from both and stood alone. 

I have been dutiful long enough,’’ she said, with 
intense bitterness. There has been no harm in 
anything I did; but you will not think that because 
you have made up your mind that I am bad. You 
only want me at home for the work I do. I had to 
deceive you to get away, even for a few hours, from 
my hateful life here.” 

It went against the grain for Daniel to justify him¬ 
self at any time; but he said, Eva, you know that I 
have been obliged to depend on you since your mother 
died. You know.” 

He stopped. Crop-failure, debts not his own, death 
which brought not only grief but money-loss — he 
could not speak of them. George partly understood 
him. 

“ Yes, poor mother! She would be glad that I am 
getting away. We asked your consent, and you said 
a cruel thing about me and ordered me into the house. 
I wish I hadn’t told you. Oh! ” she cried. Where 

[ 140 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

shall I go? First George’s mother and then my own 
father.” 

Avoiding both men as if she had a horror of them, 
she fled sobbing to the porch. They did their best 
to soothe her, but she kept away from them and wept 
despairingly. 

‘‘ You had better go,” Daniel said. She can’t quiet 
down while you are here.” 

“ I can’t leave her like this. Eva, don’t, don’t! ” 
Eva, hush! Do you want to frighten Helen? ” 

That made her respond. Pressing her hand to her 
mouth and shivering, she walked into the house. The 
men listened anxiously for some minutes, and then 
said a civil goodnight. 

When he was alone Daniel went and sat down again 
in his corner. If he had had somebody to tell him that 
he had not done harm it would have been a comfort, 
but he must get along without that, and do what a 
man should. He felt as if he were walking along a 
muddy road through lifeless country on a gray day. 


[ 141 ] 


CHAPTER XVI 


O N THE first of August early in the morning 
it was hot, and so murky that the sun looked 
colorless. At Yost’s the work inside and out went on 
as usual. There were no elegant preparations for 
company, no joyful excitement. Nothing indicated 
that this was a wedding-day. When George came 
downstairs he found one room after another in perfect 
order, empty and carefully darkened to keep out the 
heat. His mother was not to be seen; she had gone 
off on some errand, and no one could tell him anything 
about her. 

While waiting for her he ate a lonely breakfast and 
wandered about, looking hopefully for some signs of 
the occasion; but wedding-cake there was none, or 
anything like it, and no beginning of anything. 
After a while he went to the garden himself, and 
brou^t in all the flowers there were, and did what 
he could with the poppies and lady’s-slippers and 
spiky red bergamot. 

‘‘ If Mary were here she would see to all this; she 
knows how to arrange flowers. These don’t look 
well,” he thought, as he cautiously stuck them into 
some tall celery-glasses which he had hunted up. 
Among his fresh embarrassments one pressing question 

[ 142 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


which had worried him for weeks recurred to him: 

What on earth can I say to Eva to explain why I 
am so short of money on our wedding-trip? ” 

He opened the rooms and made them look as gay 
as he could; then he searched high and low for his 
mother and could not find her. It was quite time for 
the bridegroom to start. He had begun to tramp 
nervously up and down the sitting-room, in despair of 
the whole celebration, when in Christiana walked. 
She wore a cotton morning dress, and looked over¬ 
heated but not at all guilty; and she gazed at the 
flowers on her secretary as if they were a symptom. 
“Mother! There’s nothing ready anywhere! ” 

“ Are you going? ” 

She put the question as if she opened a door for 
the last time; but her manner made no impression on 
him. He thought how she had kept him weeks and 
weeks in uncertainty, all the while not opening her 
lips about his marriage. Indeed she had had very 
little to say to him on any subject; and now, at the 
last minute, she still hoped to influence him! 

“ I consulted you about everything,” he replied, 
warmly. “ I said my plans were to take Eva to the 
minister’s house and bring her here to dinner, and go 
to Philadelphia this afternoon; and I gave you a list 
of the people I thought we should invite, and told you 
who was coming. If you didn’t want them why didn’t 
you object when I asked you? How could she have 
any wedding in that poor little place of hers? ” 

“ This is your affair,” she answered. “ These 

[ 143 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


guests are yours, not mine. You can give orders for 
their entertainment, as if this house were a hotel.” 

“It is not my place to give orders when guests are 
to be entertained in this house. Nor is it my place to 
look about and see whether the proper things are being 
done or not.” 

As Christiana turned from him with a bored air 
and opened an account-book, it seemed to him that his 
mother was far away, and he missed her dreadfully. 
Standing where he did he could not see the longing 
look she cast at the small central closet in the secretary 
where she kept her cash. When he was about to 
start on a journey she had always unlocked that door 
and given him a roll of money. It distressed her to 
know how little he had now. 

“ Will you see that these people are made welcome 
and have their dinner? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Mother, shall I bring my wife here to live? ” 

“ You may. I told you that before,” replied 
Christiana, sharply. “ I can’t send him away. That 
I can’t do. I must keep him where I can see him 
and hear him speak,” she said to herself. “ Will he 
really go? Can it be that he will go? ” 

“ Goodbye,” he said, and went out. 

He did not think of his mother again, her chilling 
non-refusals and his anxieties caused by her. He 
turned away from all that. What was about to happen 
filled his thoughts; the mental picture of Eva which 
he dwelt upon was radiant. Only the evening before 

[ 144 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


she had said, “ I look at my ring, and I can’t believe 
that it is mine. I am so happy.” He wished that his 
father could have married them. It seemed strange 
that to the rest of the world this hour was like any 
other hour. 

Toward noon the rockaway from Mount Misery 
was drawing near Yost’s, and Helen had not caught a 
glimpse of the bridal carriage anywhere along the way. 
Daniel and Sylvester did not look about much. They 
had expected to be impressed, and they were more 
impressed than they expected. By the time they 
arrived it was quite painful. Among the shining 
vehicles of the other guests the rockaway was a dis¬ 
creditable possession; and when he had been sitting 
for ten minutes in Christiana’s parlor Daniel had to 
remind himself that he too was a proprietor, and that 
he had many more years to live than these elderly 
fellows whose money was all made. 

It was an unpleasant occasion. Christiana’s dark 
red room was full of velvet chairs and thick silk 
cushions, very warm, and somewhat musty with the 
dampness of summer. Not a person there really 
approved of the marriage, and the atmosphere was 
that of dissent and disinclination to be pleased. 
Luther, who had cut his wanderings short in order to 
go to this wedding, kept far away from Daniel and 
looked ready to throw stinging darts. Sitting stiff and 
lonesome, Joe, the sole representative of the Seven 
Stars crowd, wished heartily that he had not taken alb 
the trouble to come, until he began to wish that some 

. [ 14S ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


one would introduce him to Helen, which Louisa did. 
The other guests were few and dignified. The portly 
men wore handsome cloth, the women silk with wide 
flounces. While waiting for the bride and groom they 
talked, tried to be interested in stereopticon views, 
sat with photograph albums in their laps; and as it 
grew later and very much warmer they fidgeted and 
endeavored not to show that they were hungry. They 
did not approve of Louisa because, although she had 
inherited plenty to live on, she chose to run her 
father’s hotel. She alone behaved as if she were at a 
wedding; and they thought she acted like a tavern- 
keeper, talking to everybody and making jokes, and 
suggesting reasons why the bride and groom were 
tardy. She was really the hostess, for Christiana had 
not appeared at all. 

Will these people receive my daughter kindly? ” 
Daniel thought. “ If only she doesn’t get angry! ” 
Louisa was particularly cordial to him; but she was 
his sole friend there, and he felt so troubled that it 
became a burden to speak to anyone. At last the 
aimless conversation could be endured no longer: he 
felt that he must make an effort to protect his girl. 
When he left the room no one noticed it. Out in the 
hall between two rows of doors he did not know which 
way to go, and he stood still, reflecting that Eva would 
have her home in this immense house. From now on 
Mount Misery would do without her, and she would 
move about these rooms every day. Slowly he pro¬ 
ceeded toward one door, which was open a little. It 

[ 146 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


led into the dining-room; and he saw the table, long • 
and white, and Mary with a green apron over her 
white gown. The encounter was startling when both 
were deep in their own thoughts. He said nothing; 
though she felt irritated she bade him a pleasant good¬ 
morning, and mentioned ‘‘ Aunt Louisa.” 

“ I didn’t know she had a niece,” he remarked. 

“ She has not. My mother taught me to call her 
and Mrs. Stroh ‘ Aunt.’ ” 

“ This young lady would like me to forget her 
father’s silly behavior,” Daniel reflected. 

As he still did not disclose what he wanted, Mary 
asked, Does the table look pretty? ” 

Yes,” he replied, soberly. He really considered it 
awe-inspiringly elegant, and dreaded sitting at it. 

Well, let him stand there if he likes,” she said to 
herself; and she went back to her work and her 
interrupted thinking as if there were no one in the 
room. This was George’s wedding-day; he was putting 
a gold ring with engraved initials on Eva’s hand. 

“ Oh, if the next few hours were over! Well, they will 
be soon.” 

“ Can you tell me where Mrs. Stroh is? ” Daniel at 
last inquired. 

I’ll see.” Mary left the room, came back in a 
moment, and said, ‘‘ Go upstairs; you will find her. 
The bride and groom are taking a long time, aren’t 
they? ” 

“ They are very late.” 

In the shady upper hall Daniel again stood between 

[ 147 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


two rows of closed doors, and some minutes passed 
before one of them was quietly opened. Christiana 
had been sitting in her own room, sore and passive. 
It seemed that when she went downstairs and met the 
wedding guests she would accept this fatality; then 
there would always be another woman, a young woman 
whom she detested, here in her own house. The 
summons to see Daniel was a sign that she could no 
longer choose her own visitors; as she walked slowly 
toward him she looked weak. 

“ I believe she is just,” he thought. She thinks 
I am going to beg.” 

He had meant to talk only of Eva, but now he had 
the wish to explain himself. 

I want to speak to you. I like this marriage no 
more than you do.” 

Why not? ” 

Do you think I want my daughter to go into a 
family where they are not proud to have her? ” 

Why didn’t you prevent it? ” 

I couldn’t. Why didn’t you? ” 

While Christiana had nothing to say to that, she 
regarded him without anger because he was so in 
earnest. 

There is another thing,” he said. I won’t praise 
Eva. I only say that it will go well if she thinks you 
like her. She will do anything for those she likes.” 

Whom does she like? ” 

‘‘ She loves her sister. She is nervous at times, but 
it never lasts long.” 


[ 148 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“We shall all have to do our best/’ Christiana 
answered; and with nothing more to say they walked 
through the hall and down the stairs side by side. 

It had grown hotter and hotter in the parlor among 
the heavy upholsteries, and the guests were sleepy and 
bored. A dozen times they had thought they heard 
George’s carriage. When Christiana entered, it made 
a little time pass, but there soon came a relapse. 
Hungry men roamed out and in, and looked frequently 
at their watches. The women whispered behind their 
fans that the couple must have met with a serious 
accident, unless the minister had gone away to a dying 
person; and there were lips which breathed that 
perhaps some one had been jilted at the last minute. 
Luther stared gloomily from one to another, as if all 
this had developed through disregard of his repeated 
warnings; Christiana showed excitement only in the 
tension of her neck-muscles and the elusive movements 
of her eyes. 

Finally Sylvester, who had been sitting statue-like, 
rose to his feet, and said, “ I am going to drive along 
the road and find out what I can.” 

“ I’ll go with you,” Daniel responded, quickly. 
Standing apart from all the others, they took leave of 
Christiana and went out. 

After another wait Sylvester reappeared by himself. 
He halted stiffly in the doorway, and turned very red 
as the whole assemblage fixed their eyes on him. 

“ The bridal couple left on the morning train,” 
he said. 


/ 


[ 149 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Left! 

Yes. We met a man who saw them.’^ 

The guests looked at each other with excitement, and 
some told frankly what they thought. Luther kept 
back everything he might have said, although the 
effort made him contort his face. Louisa inquired 
where Daniel was. 

He wanted to walk home,” answered Sylvester, 
who was intensely mortified. He told me to bring 
my sister Helen back immediately.” 

“ My son’s wife persuaded him to insult me because 
this was not enough of a celebration for her; and I 
suppose he was easy to persuade. I suppose he hates 
me,” Christiana thought. 

She said, “ Will you walk out to dinner? ” as if the 
feast were exactly on time; and the remaining guests 
streamed into the dining-room, to the table where 
there were so many seats vacant. 


[ iso] 


CHAPTER XVII 


u '\T OU don’t hear a ripple; the creek is as smooth 
X as jade. The duckwort buds might be balls 
of gold, and there sits a dragon-fly on one of them. 
Isn’t that a pretty picture? ” 

Talking a great deal to an imaginary companion, 
Luther lay in bed with his eyes closed. There he had 
lain for a month or more. His red cheeks had become 
thin and sallow; his flexible body was crippled, the 
vagabond was tied. In December Mary had begun to 
suspect that it hurt him to sit at the loom, and she 
had used strategy to enable the doctor to see him. 
Now it was near the end of May. A catbird sang all 
day in the garden, and the Blue Mountain beyond the 
north window was covered with new foliage, already 
thick and murmurous. 

“ I haven’t seen a spring like this since I was a boy. 
Isn’t it fine? See the speckled red lilies all over that 
meadow. I feel the sun on my back through my 
shirt.” 

Mary moved about very quietly, hoping that he 
would not notice her; but her fresh cotton dress 
rustled, and he opened his eyes. 

“ Go away! Get away! ” he screamed, and kept 
on screaming until his breath gave out. 

[ 151 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Wouldn’t you like to have your breakfast? ” 
Mary suggested. 

That mild response puzzled him, and he stopped 
pounding the bed with his fist. Then he encouraged 
her by a broad smile; and when she had come near 
enough he caught her arm and pinched it hard. 

“Now you don’t want to hurt me.” 

“No-o-oh! ” 

As he expressed no objection to breakfast she 
started to bring it; but his furious cries and shouts 
of “ Police! Police! ” made her come back running. 

“ Where were you going? You were going to meet 
that loafer. Listen.” He loudly addressed Louisa, 
who walked in at that moment. “ I want to tell you 
about this girl. You would believe that butter wouldn’t 
melt in her mouth; but there is a fellow coming to 
this house, loafing around every day, all the time. 
What do you think of that? Isn’t that a disgrace? 
And she neglects me shamefully. No doctor because 
it would cost a little something; and she pours my 
medicine out of the window, and almost starves me as 
I lie here. She doesn’t care.” 

He made a weak dive to get at Mary. Louisa 
exclaimed, “ Go out of the room! Quick! ” Luther 
liked her vigorous soothings; and in a few minutes he 
lay quiet in the bed, only muttering, “That woman! 
That woman! Hell is too good for that woman! ” 

To divert him, Louisa whispered, “ Have you said 
your prayers? ” 


[ 152 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ No, I haven’t. Don’t you know who I am? I 
am the village infidel.” 

“ Then let’s do it. Fold your hands like this, and 
close your eyes. ^ Our Father! ’ ” 

Our Father! Yes, but He doesn’t come.” 

Nothing more would Luther say. He grew drowsy, 
and lay so still that Louisa was able to put the room 
in order before she sat down beside him. Often as 
she had witnessed these delirious scenes, each one dis¬ 
tressed her afresh; and she knew well that the time, 
even for this ugly view of him, was growing short. 
One of the very few whom she cared for and trusted 
was slipping away from her. 

Poor Mary! Poor girl!” she thought. “This 
suffering, unhappy creature who wants to torment 
everyone, even his own daughter, and who will probably 
die cursing, is not Luther; Luther died weeks ago, and 
he had a good death.” 

A little later she became aware of his eyes upon her; 
the crazy malice was gone out of them, and his face 
had lost the sour look of suspicion. He began to 
speak, and though it was not much more than a whisper 
the voice was his. She almost stopped breathing to 
listen. It seemed that her old friend had resurrected 
himself for a few minutes, just for her. 

“Lou! I am going to leave you. Don’t do that. 
I don’t like tears.” He spoke as snappishly as if he 
were in perfect health. “ Do you expect me to be a 
parlor ornament for centuries? No. Oh, when I get 
out of this body I am going to kick it! I want you 

[ IS3 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


to take my tools and my old clothes and all my belong¬ 
ings that are of no value, and make a bonfire when 
Mary is out of the way.” 

I will do as you say. Luther, wouldn’t you like to 
see the minister? ” 

“ Now what do you ask me that for? Since Paul 
Stroh died I have never wanted to see a minister. 
No. My time is up; and I feel a great curiosity. 
What a woman Christiana is! I wish she wouldn’t 
sit alone over there in the evening.” 

What are your wishes about Mary? ” 

“ My Mary! I want her to have good times. So 
faithful and patient! She takes after her mother. 
Keep near to her, will you? ” 

“ Indeed I will. Is there nothing I can do for 
you?” 

I’d like to lie with my face to the east. Will you 
see to it? ” 

Yes. Oh, Luther, we have been friends so long! ” 

Lou, it is spring! ” 

If Mary were only here now, while he is like this! ” 
Louisa thought. But by the time Mary returned he 
was swearing as hard as he could. 

The doctor came and went, and after his visit the 
day entered its second phase for everyone, in the house. 
The patient fell sound asleep; Louisa seized the 
opportunity to look after affairs at the Crossed Keys. 
With the doors open so that she could hear her father if 
he stirred, Mary settled herself at her quilting-frame, 
and Frogen walked round and round her, wagging his 

[154] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


plumy tail, and laid himself down close to her side. 

Dear Father! ” she thought. “ What am I to do 
when he is gone? ” His death would not uproot her, 
and for him it would be a blessing, but she could not 
comfort herself wdth that. 

Listening for his breathing, she threaded a needle 
and set to work. The beautiful coverlet she was 
making had festoons of roses on it, and a flock of birds 
flying, done in stitches as even and fine as seed pearls. 
It was not more than half finished; much had already 
been sewn into the feathery birds and complicated gar¬ 
lands, for she had been at it all winter. In the cold, 
short afternoons she had stitched and kept the fire 
going, with Frogen for company. It had been hard to 
tell one week from another. Those months and their 
few happenings were in her mind now, not definitely, 
but helping to make up her mood. The grief she 
anticipated could not be suffered by itself, as it is in 
the nature of some griefs to bring others with them, 
back from the past, to be confronted again. 

Her life had narrowed down. Occasionally, when 
Luther was away, Daniel had come to call on a 
Sunday afternoon. She found his presence pleasant 
enough; sometimes she sang for him; once in a long 
while he spoke of progress at Mount Misery. When 
it could not be avoided gracefully she had gone to 
Yost’s. Christiana was hardly ever seen in Middle- 
port, and since George’s marriage Mary had not had a 
real conversation with him. He appeared to be 
somehow dimmed. 


[ ISS ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


‘‘ If I could be sure that he is happy/^ she thought, 
as she delicately completed the centre of a rose. 

Whenever Eva had paid her a visit, to lounge away 
an hour in an intimacy without friendship, she had 
required to see the quilting, admiring it immensely and 
intimating that it was a waste of time. She had also 
begged for singing-lessons, although she possessed no 
voice and no ear. Opening her mouth wide, not caring 
how she looked, she sang with her whole face, A-a-ahs 
which went through Mary, they were so sharp and 
weak; and she produced louder sounds valiantly, 
rising on her toes. Even after she herself knew that 
it was hopeless she had kept on with the lessons for a 
while. The fire-flash between her brows was often 
deep crimson; the loose, elaborate arrangement of her 
hair made her thin cheeks and temples look thinner. 

“ Poor, frightened thing! I wish I could put her 
absurd remarks out of my mind. And she is so well 
guarded, with her husband and her father. Stop 
that! I will not envy her,” Mary said to herself. 

Can’t you give a little time to cheer me up? ” had 
been Eva’s demand over and over. “ They’re so 
cranky at Yost’s. The same thing at the same time 
each day, until I feel as if I were in a machine. 
Mount Misery was livelier. And the fuss my mother- 
in-law makes about her things! She shows me this 
and that, old linen and china and such stuff; and this 
belonged to her mother, and that came down on her 
grandfather’s side, and you hardly dare touch it, 
and it must all be taken care of and pretty nearly 

[156] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


prayed to. I get sick and tired.’^ 

I want to forget all of this/’ Mary thought, from 
the depths of her exhausted soul. “ I want to go back 
to my old thoughts.” 

In spite of this subtle form of homesickness she did 
not stop sewing; the streaming tail-feathers of a bird 
went on growing steadily until Frogen started up, and 
she heard a cautious knock. Very quietly she went to 
the side door. Daniel Hain made his appearance 
around the corner of the house, bringing a basket of 
early vegetables, which he had arranged nicely, with 
an eye to the crimson and green and white. 

“ Come into the fresh air,” he said. 

She stepped out on the side porch. It was so little 
as to be no more than a broad border along the ell, 
and it overlooked the garden, strewn with cornflowers 
as if a whole Milky Way of blue stars had lightly fallen. 
Intending to leave her father only a few minutes, Mary 
did not even ask the visitor to sit down. As he made 
inquiries he regarded her anxiously. The unclouded 
look which he associated with her face was gone, and 
there were broad, dark shadows under her eyes and a 
purplish tinge on her lips. 

‘‘ Father is asleep,” she said. “He is not suffering 
much today.” 

“ That’s good. Do you know how Eva is? ” 

“ Well, I think. She was here on Tuesday. Won’t 
you ever go to Yost’s to see her? ” 

“ Some time.” 

Daniel seemed satisfied to stand there, gazing 

[ 157 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


keenly toward a far-off point on the mountain. While 
he appeared as hard-working as ever, the goaded 
expression had vanished, and he carried himself with 
peculiar dignity; it was the captain-like bearing 
common to men who in carrying on their business 
cooperate successfully with the weather. 

“ He looks quite fine and proud,” Mary thought. 
Making a great effort to put aside her troubles and to 
be interested in him, she asked, ‘‘ Have you had good 
luck? ” 

“ When you are not so tired I’ll tell you about it.” 

No, tell me now.” 

“ Well, this is a great year. Of course it’s early to 
count on anything — .” 

She tapped the wooden porch-railing three times and 
uttered a magic word on his behalf. There were many 
in Middleport who believed that bad spirits would 
come rushing to break anybody’s good luck if their 
attention were called to it, and this was the way to 
scare them off. 

That’s right. We’ll take no chances,” he said. 
“ The wheat and the rye and the oats and the grass! 
They are beyond anything I have ever seen. I expect 
to have some improvements, those the place needs 
most, well started before winter.” 

“ I’m so glad.” 

It’s too early to be sure,” he repeated; but he was 
beaming. He had almost reached a point of great 
happiness, that of the enterprising nature which, after 
half starving for a long time on plans and ideas, finds 

[158] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

itself free to act, to achieve, and get the respect of its 
peers. 

The air of the morning was full of hope; soft as 
silk, fragrant with the first roses, the sweet wind went 
passing by. A sense of the contrast between the 
position of this man with his sane and solid ambitions 
and that of her father, a prostrate human being 
debarred from the whole summer just ahead, made her 
lips quiver. 

What is it, Mary? ” For the first time Daniel 
called her that. 

My father cannot get well. Oh, I miss him 
awfully! 

And I have been telling her about my business, 
and bragging! ’’ Daniel thought. 

Regretful though he was, he felt a great thrill 
because she had let him witness her grief. He thought 
her the finest little lady he had ever seen; and 
with all her spirit she was slight and solitary. His 
feelings almost nullified the years between them. 

Dear,” he said, moving eagerly a step toward her. 

Maybe I ought to wait until my place is as I mean 
to have it; but if I do, some other man will have the 
chance to carry you off —.” 

She turned her face away, but he saw her repulsion, 
and did not know how to go on. What will she 
say? ” he thought, in great anxiety. 

Please don’t.” 

He stopped short; he felt how scarred he was by 
work, how far from young. 

[ IS9] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ I might have known; I did know,” he said, uncer¬ 
tainly. You can’t think of this now. I meant not 
to speak for a long time if I ever did; but I want you 
so much. Perhaps if I’m patient — .” 

“ I can’t. I am very sorry.” 

After one grave look at her he walked away, and 
closed the gate, and she heard his horse go down 
the road. 

As she went hurrying to her father her head for once 
was not held high. Never to see Daniel Hain again 
was her fervent wish, now that she knew what he 
wanted. As he himself suspected, he had only made 
one more difficulty for her to breast. She tried to 
remember whether he had said anything that sounded 
as if he might come back. Luther had not wakened, 
so there was time to sit dolefully down on the green 
settee, and presently she curled herself up on it, and 
lay still, thinking. 

Her conclusion was, Yes, he’s kind. I msh he 
hadn’t seen me shrink away from him. He is rather 
old. How could he have thought of any such thing? 
Ah! There is nothing I must decide or do at once.” 

The house was cool and silent. Now and then a 
breeze from the mountain wandered through, and a 
wood-peewee’s gentle voice was heard from some tree. 
Mary had no idea that she could fall asleep; but it was 
a great relief to have Daniel gone, and she had not had 
a good night’s rest for a week. She did not move 
again. Louisa came in and quickly went out on tiptoe, 
delighted to find them both so comfortable. 

[ i6o] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


About the middle of the afternoon, when the sunshine 
appeared inert and the silence was profound, Luther 
began to talk again once more to his imaginary 
companion. 

“ Pretty late for prayers, I think; but I^m not an in¬ 
fidel. I only said that so that people would let me alone. 
Poor souls! They don’t even see that it is beautiful, 
this unassuming country hereabout. I want to come 
back here; if I have any chance I’ll walk, off and on, 
till Judgment Day. At times when I have been away 
somewhere among the meadows after nightfall I have 
felt such freedom. I have felt close to a divine being 
who does not want us to go hungry and who takes us 
to her benign breast at last. That’s what I’ve wor¬ 
shipped. I never told anybody about it before. What 
do we know? ” 

Having said it all, all he had to say, in a faint, 
resolute voice, he closed his eyes with great satis¬ 
faction. Nothing disturbed the quiet which soothed 
Mary in her dreams. One hour and another ebbed 
away. It was wonderfully peaceful. When at last 
she woke she saw sunset light, and with a frightened 
sound she sprang up and darted to the bedside. 

She felt like shrieking, but did not. She ran out, 
and there was George driving by. 

Oh, come! I fell asleep, and I’m afraid Father’s 
gone.” 

George ran back with her, and comforted her like 
a brother. In the sorrowful confusion he attended to 
everything, fetched the doctor, summoned those who 

[i6i] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


were needed. Although anxious to get home he sent 
word to Yost’s instead, and arranged to stay with 
Luther, and said there was no need of another watcher. 
By persuading Mary in her dazed unreasonableness 
that she had better go at once to Louisa’s house for 
the night, he kept her from seeing the dreary-looking 
wagon which arrived, and the old woman in black like 
a crow. 

Louisa herself went sorrowfully about putting 
everything in order, with a dust-pan and broom or with 
fresh linen over her arm. When all had been done 
George closed the house, which seemed wonderfully 
empty and clean, like a shell. It was late enough for 
him to begin his long night-watch. This was not the 
first time he had sat up with the dead, and he did not 
dislike the prospect of the hours alone. He was a 
good deal shocked by the fact that Luther had died. 
Before settling down he walked about a while, and 
wondered whether Mary would try living here by 
herself, so close to the mountain that it seemed that 
the tossing and sighing of great branches was really 
inside the house. The piano, long untouched, looked 
cold. From the shadows at the top of the stairs came 
an occasional creak. He carried a large chair into the 
hallway, inspected the luncheon which Louisa had set 
out for him, and chose a couple of Luther’s books. 
Frogen, much puzzled, lay down by his master’s 
closed door. 

George’s reading went badly, for he could not keep 
his mind on it. He looked unusually hearty, but as 

[ 162 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


he sat and reflected, deep lines came out on his face. 
Nothing, no matter how solemn, could take his thoughts 
for any great length of time from his own cares. He 
was worried night and day. 

“ Where can I get the money? My salary used to 
be a joke between Mother and me, but it’s a poor 
joke now to leave me short with all these expenses 
coming. Mother knows how things are. I don’t see 
how she can keep so still and be so bitter. I suppose 
when the boy is here she will want him to have things. 
She will not be able to hold her grudge then. She was 
never close. I wish from my soul that Eva were 
through it. Why must it be so hard on the woman? 
Suppose she shouldn’t live? I won’t think of that at 
all. No doubt every man feels a little excited the first 
time. I want to see that boy. How long will it be 
until I can have fun with him, I wonder? I’ll read 
a while.” 

The whirr of the clock before it struck, woke him 
out of a doze, and he sat up, rubbing his eyes, and 
counted the strokes which seemed to make the whole 
house ring. 

On the other side of that door Luther lies dead. 
Yes, I’m coming. I beg your pardon for falling 
asleep.” 

The loom with a piece of light-colored weaving on 
it, and the arrangement of white linen smoothly draped 
and sweeping down to the floor, were the first objects 
under the light of the lamp in George’s hand. As he 
turned back the sheet Luther’s face, with an earnest 

[ 163 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


expression full of dignity, appeared in the vague circle 
of the light. When his heart quietly stopped it had 
not troubled him. 

“ He looks as if he were pleading a case,” George 
thought. No doubt he was handsome when he was 
young. A fastidious fellow too. What an immense 
disappointment he must have been to himself! 
Studied law, too lazy to practice; drank a little and a 
little more; called himself an infidel. I wonder what 
he believes now. 

Frogen, what are you growling at? Heavens, 
keep quiet! Who on earth— ? ” 

He heard a laborious step, and went to the door, 
Frogen dashing ahead. 

Eva! ” 

“ I came to watch with you,” she said, looking at him 
like a wicked fairy. “ Let me see the old man.” 

Her face poised above Luther’s face in the dim 
light. Her husband knew what she was thinking: 

He is gone. I am still here; but for how long? ” 

Dear —.” 

‘‘ What do you want? ” she gently asked Luther. 

“ She feels how he is yearning for something,” 
George thought. He said, “ The old man is at peace.” 

“ I only know that he is not here. Where is he? 
Oh, where is he? ” 

Presently her brooding mood vanished; there came 
a complete change in her tone. 

“ I want to go,” she said, and walked across the hall, 
restlessly. 


[ 164 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Eva, what brings you here? ” 

“ I took the phaeton and Kitty. Oh, I didn’t make 
anybody any trouble! I harnessed her myself.” 

But why did you want to come? ” 

I’ll tell you. It’s so close here.” 

She would not sit in his comfortable chair; and he 
stood looking at her in alarm, while she wandered 
around, preoccupied as if thinking up a whim about 
which to be stubborn. She fingered Mary’s belong¬ 
ings, inspected the luncheon, and ate a bite or two, 
disdainfully. At last, after another aimless march, 
she stopped in front of him. 

‘‘ Come.” 

‘‘We must stay here until morning, dear.” 

“ I won’t let you stay in this house. I won’t 
have it.” 

“ Eva, you know I can’t leave now, not even long 
enough to drive you home.” 

“ I don’t want to go to Yost’s.” 

“ Where do you want to go? ” 

“ Home.” 

“ Do you mean to Mount Misery? ” 

She nodded. 

“ What does all this mean? ” 

A brief glance replied. Her eyes were both fierce 
and forlorn. She trusted him, but hers was the strange 
kind of trust which half wills to repulse and wound, 
and yet cries, “ Oh, help me! ” 

“You kept it to yourself, and drove over here 
alone? ” 


[165] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ I wouldn’t tell anyone but you. I wouldn’t ask 
anything of them at Yost’s. I haven’t a friend among 
them. Oh, take me away, dear! Nothing can hurt 
that dead old man.” 

Moving very quietly, George locked the shutters, 
cast a hasty glance at Luther, and blew out the lamp. 
Frogen would not leave the house until he was dragged 
out; he planted himself in the doorway as close against 
the door as he could, and when they drove off they 
heard him whining until they were far down the street. 

Beyond the village the air smelt of chestnut- 
blossom and rang with peepers’ voices calling Knee- 
deep! Knee-deep! ” Gold-gray was the color of the 
fields flooded with the full moon’s light, and the rich 
foliage adorning the roadside with fantastic masses and 
many-pointed, elaborate silhouettes appeared cloudy 
white and velvet black. The pale stone walls of 
Yost’s Church were almost lucent as they drew near it. 

Stop, please, George,” she said, eagerly. We’ll 
go into the church.” 

“ Dear, for Heaven’s sake let me take you home as 
quickly as possible.” 

“ If you don’t stop I will jump out. Now unlock 
the door. Here is your key.” 

After the fresh air of the spring night they felt a 
stagnant atmosphere against their faces. The empty 
church confronted them, dead still, full of massive 
shadows which were like the dregs of darkness. Moon¬ 
beams made tracts of silver light on the panelling and 
the floor. 


[i66] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Now take me into your pew/^ said Eva. 

I am afraid you will walk against something and 
be hurt.” 

He struck a match, and saw her face by its flare. 
Furious or sweet, she was equally formidable. 

It’s a consecrated place,” she said. “ I want to 
sit in your mother’s pew.” 

“ This is ghastly,” he thought, sweating with anxiety, 
as he sat down beside her. 

The worms are busy in the woodwork. My hand 
just now got into quite a pile of their dust,” she told 
him, in a conversational tone. 

He said to himself, Here I am, well and sound. I 
can give her no help. She is quite alone, to go through 
that infernal ordeal.” The thought of Eva gripped by 
natural forces to which she was nothing was horrible 
to him. 

The Yosts are lying outside, and your father,” she 
said, in a soft passive tone. I may go under tonight; 
but if it is to be so, you and I have been to church 
together here with our child, the next Yost. Whatever 
happens, you loved me first.” 

Oh, dearest! ” 

“Are you mine? Are you? Ah! Now I’ll go 
anywhere. I’m satisfied,” she murmured, as if she 
had snatched at a joy and got it whole and ripe. 

There was very little said between them on the way 
home. Covered with misty silver light the mountains 
had their midnight look, suggesting superhuman beings 
with great powers of enchantment, which they would 

[ 167 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


use for delusion and derision. The night somehow 
passed. Torture and confusion and suspense became 
nothing more than the memory of a dreadful time, 
ended in light and peace. 

Early in the morning George came galloping through 
Middleport, with his bare head wet with dew from 
brushing against low boughs. He looked exhausted, 
but his face shone. He had scarcely remembered 
Mary or Luther for hours, not until he thought of 
coming to tell his great news. 

Daniel Hain was standing talking to Mary at her 
door. Hopeless though it might be, he had come as 
soon as possible to find out whether she felt at all 
friendly to him; he thought she seemed a little glad to 
see him, and cursed his luck because George and not 
he had been on hand the evening before. In the midst 
of these youthful feelings he heard a hail: 

Goodmorning, Grandfather! 

‘‘Well, well! ’’ he said, hastening to the gate. 

“ A big, handsome boy,” George announv':ed. 

“ I congratulate you,” said Daniel, fervently. 
“ How is Eva? ” 

“ Not very well. She had a terrible time.” 

“A son! ” Mary thought, shrinking back into the 
shadow of the doorway. 

She seemed very solitary to George when he looked 
over at her. 

“ Mary, please tell Aunt Louisa,” he said, and 
hesitated. In his haste and excitement he could not 
explain why he had left Luther. “ I will be here to 

[i68] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


see you some time today,” he said, in a regretful 
voice. “ Now I must go back. ^ Come to see our boy,” 
he called, as he dashed away. 

The other two were left standing there. Out of all 
the harrowing awkwardness Mary gracefully floated as 
if she did not feel it. Her congratulations were quite 
correct; she paid little heed to them herself. 

“ George did not say a word about leaving Father,” 
she thought. It didn’t hurt Father. Let it go.” 

Two months later she consented to marry Daniel. 

When she had done it and he had gone away and 
she found herself alone her clearest thought was, So 
this is all! This is what I have looked forward to all 
my life.” Later she said to herself, “ Well, why not? 
He loves me; he wants me.” 


[ 169] 


CHAPTER XVIII 


HE third Saturday in August was the pleasantest 



I day Eva had yet spent at Yost’s. Christiana 
went away very early. Her going to Reading had 
been postponed so often that her daughter-in-law 
feared the important business would be transacted by 
letter after all. She stood about near the front door 
and watched Christiana start off, well dressed and 
independent, driving two handsome horses expertly. 
Now Eva felt wonderfully at home. Happy as could 
be, she went for a walk about the place, and sat in one 
room and then in another; all seemed unusually large 
and luxurious since the owner was not there. Every 
time the clock struck she regretted the hour that was 


gone. 


About four in the afternoon Frederick himself, the 
boy, lay among the cushions in a corner of the sitting- 
room sofa. There he had lain for some time, being 
good-natured and too lazy to move much. He was 
a rosy baby with plenty of red, fuzzy hair. He gazed 
cheerfully at some pink and copper lustre-ware on 
the top shelf of the book-case, at the pink lilies on 
the table, and at his mother, who sat near the north 
window, crocheting his new white sack. Sometimes 
he held out his hands and looked at them, both palms 


[ 170] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and backs. Doing this he was so captivating that Eva 
picked him up and kissed him half a dozen times. 
Then, after carrying him about to see the pictures 
and look out of the windows, she took him on her lap 
and made him laugh at a striped ball, patiently pick¬ 
ing it up as often as it fell. 

“ Darling! Did cross old Grandmother go away? 
she said to him, joyously. “ I wish your father would 
come in. You never were so sweet before. Oh, 
George, is that you? Oh, see! He knew your step.” 

Standing in the doorway George appeared very lean 
and taller than ever. He was resplendent with health, 
having become only a subject for reminiscence at the 
Seven Stars; and he had a cheerful expression, but it 
was no more than a transient light over his rather 
sombre face. He sat down near Eva; and watching 
the baby they were silent and contented. 

After a while she said, “ Haven’t we been happy 
today? ” 

Have you enjoyed it? ” 

Did you hear any news? ” 

I met your father on his way to Middleport, and 
they are all well at Mount Misery. He comes to see 
Mary nearly every day, I believe. It’s surprising that 
he lets her put off the wedding until spring.” Eva 
looked so disturbed that he added, I wish you could 
be pleased with that marriage. I think it is a good 
thing.” 

“ At his age? ” 

He is only forty-four. He would have a great 

[ 171 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


many years to live alone.” 

He has forgotten my mother.” 

George made no reply. Seeing how very flat his 
mood was, she suggested, You haven’t sung to me 
for a long time.” 

“ I don’t think of music nowadays. I do my part 
in church mechanically,” he slowly answered, remem¬ 
bering how often he had tried to make songs and 
found he could think of nothing but money. 

“ Sing anything. I want to hear your voice.” 

She settled herself to listen: with her lashes down¬ 
cast she looked very gracious. He felt so little 
interest in singing that he did not walk across the 
hall to the piano, and at first his voice was not much 
more than a hum. 


Trod by the breeze, the supple poplars quiver. 

Back from far windows flames the evening red. 
Somewhere a thrush repeats, “Oh, sweet forever! ” 
Eden was like this. Here are peace and bread. 


Steep winds the path. The traveller goes lonely, 
Hurt by the slippery rock and thornbush rude; 
And at the summit, bleeding, finds he only 
Free winds and starlit space and solitude. 


Ah, but the effort! Not the vale Elysian, 

Not years of peace, though lived on heights sublime, 
Led on his soul with a sweet, tormenting vision. 
’Twas not the top he long^ for, but the climb. 


[ 172 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


I never heard that before,’’ Eva said. 

I made it a couple of years ago. I had almost 
forgotten it.” 

After a few minutes he begam again, rather tenta¬ 
tively. 

Through autumn dusk the grayer smoke-clouds rise 
From charring leaves. 

Old housewives steep the lily-bud in wine 
To heal a bruise. 

It bears no fruit, bum out the briar. 

So burns a heart in futile fire. 

O joy of summer prisoned in the guise 
Of brittle sheaves! 

The languid fields which long have born the grain 
Of orchids dream, 

Glorious in their white and red, 

Which feed no beast and make no bread. 

The last lines came from his lips with passion. Her 
comment was a caress. 

Don’t you like that at all? ” he asked. 

“ It’s such a queer song.” 

I only tried at it while I was in the field.” 

Although she counted on the singing to render him 
responsive she crocheted very fast for several minutes 
before proceeding to say, in her soft voice, “ When will 
you speak to your mother? ” 

Oh, I don’t know.” 

I won’t wait much longer,” she warned him, 
lightly. 


[ 173 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


I hoped you would change your mind about that.” 

“ I can’t. I want to get away. I must get away.” 

Their clear path ahead if they stayed at Yost’s, and 
their large future there, with its manifold values, were 
plain in his mind; but he replied moderately. 

This is a dignified way of living; and we are com¬ 
fortable here.” 

“ In our one room? I sit on the porch, I walk in the 
fields; it doesn’t matter where I may be. I am trusted 
with nothing. I am only an extra plate at the table. 
Oh! ” she exclaimed, after this unique day of liberty 
desiring more such days acutely. “ Oh, I want work! 
To work for ourselves, and plan it together! I want 
my own place! ” 

What about Mother if we leave her alone? ” 

Your mother would not have asked me to drive 
to Reading with her today for anything in the world.” 

Eva said no more, though many grievances, accum¬ 
ulated during the very period when she had expected 
to exercise a graceful dominance, were dammed up in 
her memory. 

I suppose you mean the small stone house on the 
other side of the creek? Is that it? ” George asked, 
presently. 

“ That’s what I thought of; and enough land for us 
to farm. I loved that little house as soon as I saw it. 
I was looking at it again this morning, and I know 
exactly what to do with it. Oh, George! ” 

To him the spaciousness of Yost’s, the room to feel 
alone and free, was one of its great charms. He 

[174] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

answered, abruptly, That tumble-down place? 
There^s nothing to it. This is not a practical idea 
at all.’^ 

Do you think it dignified to live here, it may be 
for thirty years, dependent and waiting? 

If we ourselves have the right feeling about it, 
yes.” He was silent for some time, realizing that he 
could not expect loyalty to his family to predominate 
in her breast. He continued, painfully, Eva, couldn’t 
you give in a little? ” and added, to himself, If only 
Mother had done one spontaneous, warm-hearted thing 
for her I could point to it now.” 

I’d rather be poor as poor than ^ give in,’ and ^ get 
along,’ here. It isn’t worth it.” 

That is your opinion. I want the boy to grow 
up at Yost’s. It will be better for him.” 

“ I can’t bring up the boy in this house. There is 
constant interference. And you are anxious all the 
time, and it is wearing you out. I am very unhappy.” 

“ Don’t, dear. If you are unhappy I’ll ask Mother 
for the little house.” 

Will you do it soon? ” 

“ I might as well.” 

“ I thought it would be Heaven to be with you, and 
it will when we are alone.” 

“ Don’t you care for Yost’s at all? You wouldn’t 
find life better anywhere. After my years away I was 
so glad to get back.” 

She was struck by the unconscious homesickness in 
his tone; and after studying his face for a minute she 

[ 175 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


began to condition and half promise to herself. 

In the little house we shall still be at Yost^s; the 
boy can grow up here,” she said to him, temporizing. 

Ask your mother; we’ll see what she says.” 

She’s coming.” 

They shrank apart before Christiana, who walked 
in looking robust and very warm. 

“Ah, there’s my baby!” she said. 

“ See, he knows you,” Eva responded, stopping mid¬ 
way in her escape from the room. “ When he heard 
you he looked all around for you.” 

“ Was he glad to see his grandmother? Precious 
little one! ” 

Paying no further attention to anyone, Christiana 
sat down, noted items, filed receipts, and counted the 
money in her purse. After everything was in order 
she locked the desk and turned away from it with her 
autocratic definiteness. 

“ Now we’ll have supper. — Has the boy been well 
today? ” she asked Eva, who was lingering in the hall. 

“ Very well. I think he is going to have your eyes.” 

“ It’s too soon to tell about his eyes.” 

At the table Christiana recounted the day’s business 
to George, and they talked about it at length, while 
Eva sat unobtrusively quite outside the conversation. 
She scarcely heard it. She kept looking over at her 
husband in the course of her own animated thoughts. 

“ How interested he is in all that! Would he really 
sacrifice much if we left this place? I want him to 
be happy; I’ll make him so. I’ll help him: he doesn’t 

[176] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


know what I can do. But suppose she will not let us 
have the little house, what then? 

A certain sheet of estimates was needed by Chris¬ 
tiana for reference, and George went to fetch it. 
Freddy had been made comfortable in a big chair, 
and he was good; but he saw no prospect of any¬ 
thing except further being good, and his father walked 
out without stopping to entertain him. He began to 
make small protests. Christiana looked at him, and 
laid down her fork. 

What^s wrong with the boy? ’’ she said. 

“ He wants to be held,’’ Eva replied. 

Losing sight of all she had been discussing, 
Christiana fidgeted and anxiously watched the baby 
while he wriggled and fretted and broke out into a 
wail. Then she asked, “ Won’t you take him? ” 

He must learn that he will not get his own way 
by being naughty. He knows the difference well 
enough between can and can’t.” 

‘‘ Poor little fellow, how he has to cry! Dear little, 
delicate baby! ” 

“ He will soon get tired of it. Do you think he is 
delicate? ” Eva said, pleasantly. 

You will have a very sick child.” 

Beginning to exert himself, Freddy stiffened his 
body, threw back his head, and cried as hard as he 
could. With the angry screams piercing her ears, and 
feeling every one of her mother-in-law’s excoriating 
looks, Eva sat as if she were all alone amid cool groves. 
Then the baby made himself truly terrifying; he 

[ 177 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


became quite silent suddenly. 

Oh, look at him!’’ cried Christiana. ‘‘He is 
holding his breath.” 

“ What a will he has, the little man! This morning 
he did that for me until he turned purple.” 

On his way back through the hall George heard his 
mother exclaim, “ I can’t sit by and see it! ” She 
hurried across the room, after which there was another 
outburst of screams. He stood still in distaste. 
Christiana started to walk up and down, lulling the 
baby, who lamented in a heartbroken and self-pi tying 
fashion. Eva seemed quite passive. But he reached 
the door just as she sprang to her feet and held out 
her arms. The older woman stopped, with the baby 
pressed to her breast. 

“ Give him to me,” Eva said. 

“ You needn’t speak to me like that.” 

“ Give him to me.” 

“ Do you think I don’t know how to take care of 
a child? ” 

“ I am taking care of this one, please understand.” 
Eva stamped her foot. 

“ I suppose I may be glad he wasn’t weaned on 
wine.” 

George came quickly, and lifted the baby out of 
Christiana’s arms. “ Don’t you interfere. Mother,” 
he said. “ What Eva does for this child is right.” 

“ Since when are you an authority on baby-raising, 
George? ” asked Christiana. She mastered her sense 
of outrage, though it was complete indeed, and pro- 

[178] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


ceeded to admonish Eva emphatically. You must 
learn how to treat this little one, and you must control 
yourself. In your position as the child’s mother and a 
member of our family certain things are expected of 
you! Remember that.” 

^‘Oh! The family! Well, there will be no more 
of this family. I wish I had never heard of your 
family.” 

You don’t mean that,” George said, coolly. 

Eva burst into tears, and hurried out of the room, 
with the baby in her arms. They both saw her appear 
around the corner of the house and go flying up toward 
the orchards. 

Here is the paper you wanted,” George said. 
“ Now I’d like you to finish what you were telling me. 
Suppose we go out for a while.’^ 

“ Why, he is ordering me about! ” Christiana 
thought. Well, well! And he is not against me.” 

When they had left the house and started along the 
Northkill road Christiana began to talk about her 
affairs with more freedom than usual. It seemed to 
her that George had never displayed such good business 
sense. The day’s transactions were disposed of in 
a short time; but the two Yosts feeling drawn 
together, kept slowly on until they reached the stone 
bridge and stood leaning against the wall along its 
side. A little to the south of the bridge there was a 
great hole in the creek-bed, and they gazed into green, 
secret depths; the shadowy water flowed away under 
their feet. Though it was still day, and light covered 

[ 179] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


the Blue Mountain, the beginnings of dusk were 
visible in the dark shade among the branches and in 
the intense, rich color of the pastures and cornfields 
rustling full of corn. A nighthawk cried ^‘Peent! 
Peent! as it flew back and forth, a speck in the clear 
sky. If any spirits began to stir hereabouts as night 
came on they were Christiana’s dead, and if their 
phantoms could sustain a clinging particle of dust it 
was her earth. She and her son stood quiet, thinking 
of each other. 

George debated whether the cordial silence should 
be broken for what he had to say, with all that was 
likely to follow; but he was obliged to say it, and no 
time would be more propitious than this. He ignored 
everything that had happened, and made his request 
with all the grace he could; and Christiana listened, 
amicably. 

That house and some land,” she repeated. So 
you want to start for yourself? ” 

“ I think it would be better.” 

Instantly her heart had set up its old cry, “ I can’t 
let him go; I must have him where I can see him; he 
must be under my roof when he sleeps.” But of that 
she gave no sign. Her manner was calm and 
reasonable. 

My father and my grandfather and his father, 
Johann Georg, kept the management as long as they 
lived. They did not split up the estate; that has never 
been our way. I see no reason to change.’^ 

It was so gently said that he hoped to persuade 

[ i8o] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


her. “ Mother, it would make all the difference in the 
world to me.’’ She made no answer, and he went on: 
“ Won’t you ever be as you used to be? ” 

You took your choice,” she said. You can’t 
expect to choose between two and then have both.” 

I loved Eva. An obligation goes with that. Why, 
you know all about it! Think of Father. Can you 
be so hard on me? ” 

“You say you loved her; you believe that that 
justifies. Well, I — do not love her.” 

“ I don’t know what to do,” he muttered. 

His distressful reflections lasted until he noticed 
Christiana gazing very intently beyond him. There 
was Eva, with the baby asleep in her arms, coming 
along the Blue Mountain road. She appeared to be 
all alone with the mountain, and free; her face was 
gentle. 

“ She is a remarkably handsome young woman,” 
Christiana thought. “ I hate the sight of her.” 

With a friendly glance at her husband Eva addressed 
her mother-in-law: “ I am very sorry for what I said. 
I didn’t intend to speak to you so. I lost my temper, 
and I am ashamed.” 

Christiana looked away. It was her intention to 
make some response to this, but she felt so thoroughly 
hostile that she could not find a proper one. 

“ I have been talking to Mother about the house,” 
George interposed, with tenderness. 

“Then you did ask; you didn’t let it go,” Eva 
replied, in a joyous tone. 

[i8i] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Suppose, George, that I presented you with the 
house and a hundred acres, and the stock you would 
need,’^ Christiana suddenly began. “ You know what 
farming is: hard work and uncertain gains. Would 
you be better off at the end of a year than you are 
now? ’’ 

“ We might be,” he answered. 

George,” Eva cried, eagerly. “ You keep on as 
head man here, and we’ll do without the land and pay 
rent for the house. We can do it. I can get along.” 

“ Rent! He pay rent to me! ” Christiana exclaimed. 
She detested the insincere things she had been saying; 
but to state, to this crude girl of another class, “ If 
my son is away from me I shall die,” was impossible, 
like an exhibition of nudity. She announced, The 
estate will stay as it is till the end of my time.” 

‘‘ George, what will you do? ” Eva inquired. 

We’ll decide it later.” 

After a long pause Eva proceeded, thoughtfully: 

You two appeared to be on very good terms when 
I came up. I know that that leaves me out. I walked 
up and down in the fields, and fought with myself to 
make myself sorry for what I said; and I was sorry. 
I have tried to please you, Mrs. Stroh — nobody 
knows how hard I have tried in this awful year — but 
you decided long ago that there was no good in me.” 

I was ready to give you credit for all the good 
I saw.” 

‘‘ Then you haven’t seen any, not any! ” Eva 
stopped as if appalled. 

[ 182 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


You are in a great hurry to get tiresome elderly 
people out of your way. On your wedding-day you 
coaxed my son into insulting me before guests in my 
own house/^ said Christiana, suddenly. She had never 
before alluded to this. Now George did not know 
what other bitterness she might expose. 

George, don’t you know that she and I can’t live 
together? Aren’t you convinced of that now? ” 
Eva cried. 

There was a horrified silence. It was as if some 
taint from without, some spiritual trace hanging about 
in the air like a vapor or a poisonous dust, set them all 
against each other. 

You hate the sight of me,” Eva said to Christiana. 

You don’t look at me if you can avoid it. Now you 
will not be obliged to look at me. You will have your 
mansion to yourself. Aren’t you glad? ” 

“ What do you mean? ” George asked. 

“ I hope you will give me a home where I can live. 
I hope you will. If not — .” 

“ Eva, you wouldn’t leave me? ” 

I am going now,” she answered, in a business¬ 
like way. I will not spend another night at Yost’s. 
Will you come with me? ” 

What about our son? ” 

As Eva regarded the child on her breast her down¬ 
ward look was a caress. You may have him,” she 
said, and held him out to Christiana. He did not 
wake as he was passed over into her outstretched arms. 


[183] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ What? ” George exclaimed. “ Would you desert 
him? ” 

It would be perfectly proper for her to take him, 
wouldn’t it, if I were really unfit to bring him up? ” 

Christiana held the baby tight and asked, in a low, 
voice, “ Can’t you give up your own way even for 
him? ” 

“ His time will come when he grows up. My time 
is now,” Eva answered airily. The family can go 
on, you don’t need me.” 

“ Eva,” George entreated. “ You wouldn’t leave the 
little fellow. Why, he’s ours.” 

I want Yost’s to be his home.” 

Carefully she smoothed out the rumpled front of 
her dress. When it was all smooth, she looked up at 
her husband. 

Well, George? ” 

‘‘ We’ll go home.” 

“ I am going to the Crossed Keys. Are you? ” 

‘‘ Stop this foolish talk.” 

‘‘ Do you think it foolish? You will not know where 
I am this time tomorrow night. Goodbye.” 

She walked away, over the bridge and away, until 
her white dress in the fading light was a misty spot. 

Though she carried herself haughtily the look in her 
eyes had' meant, “ Can you do this to me? I love 
you.” She seemed enchanting to him as he stared 
after her, feeling more and more outraged. 

“ Mother! ” 

“ My dear son! Come, we’ll go home.” 

[ 1841 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“I’ll bring her back! ” he exclaimed, each word 
more violent. 

He ran; he caught up to Eva; and while Christiana 
watched they stood facing each other for a few 
moments, and then went on together. 

The baby slept. The nighthawk still flew up and 
down crying, “ Peent! Peent! ” as Christiana started 
back to her house. At first she walked like a young 
woman; but in the sultry gloom under the trees she 
began to feel weak. 

“ Poor little fellow, with such a mother! Now I 
am responsible for him. I must do the best I can. 
My son cares nothing for me; he has, left me. 
Tomorrow he will not be coming in and out.” 

When she had reached the house and climbed the 
steps she hesitated, in dread of all those empty rooms; 
for a while she sat motionless at her own door. 

“ Before long I shall be old. Oh, I am lonesome! ” 

She felt as if she were already dead, in the dark 
and alone. 


[i8s] 


CHAPTER XIX 


HE air felt raw for September. The sun was 



Ji drawing water; through a rift in the clouds 
descended soft golden beams. Shadows gray as dust 
or of the gray tints of stone filled the large, clean 
stable-yard back of the Crossed Keys. In the 
farthest corner a pack of pointers and setters, half 
starved so that they would hunt, kept whining and 
pulling at their straps. Dead squirrels and rabbits 
and dead birds lay in two heaps on the kitchen porch, 
beside cartridge-belts and stacked guns. Over a fire 
in the front part of the bake-oven hung an enormous 
copper kettle holding a flood of cider, which was 
boiling hard. 

“If I have my apple-butter party while these 
hunters are here not a girl will miss it,^^ Louisa Fry 
had reflected. “ There will be very much work; also 
apple-butter full and plenty for the year; and at the 
bar very much money.” 

Another hour and the party would begin. George 
came out of the bar-room, and looked to see whether 
everything were ready. He wore a black shirt, old 
trousers and high boots suitable to a hostler; his 
face was a hard red. As the stage might arrive at any 
moment, he waited in the open air, leaning against a 


[i86] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


tree, where he could watch the road to Reading and 
also look through a window and see what was going 
on in the house. 

Eight or ten men in shooting-clothes, sitting around 
the dining-table, sagged comfortably in their chairs 
and were hilarious. In spite of all that lay ahead 
of her this evening the accomplished Louisa had set 
out a meal which was no less than a Sunday dinner. 
Spacious platters of chicken, yellow with saffron and 
garnished with unlaid eggs; potato filling, brown and 
aromatic; cucumbers dressed with cream and onion; 
all were there; and on a side-table shoo-fly cakes 
waited, cream apple-tarts, and open-faced pastry 
designs full of raisins and lemon sauce, with sweet 
trimmings shaped like snails. Louisa, wearing a 
new brown gingham and a white apron almost as broad 
as a sail, appeared for a minute at a time, to bring 
in the waffles. Her manner was repressive and stately, 
for it was beneath her dignity to do this, but she would 
not miss the compliments. Eva and another young 
woman went back and forth, waiting on the men. 

George tapped on the window several times, but no 
attention was paid to him until one of the hunters 
said to Eva, with a laugh, You’re wanted.” Then 
she came out. 

What is it? ” she inquired. 

What were those fellows saying to you? ” 
Nothing much. They asked when the party 
would begin.” 

“ Don’t let them give you fees, Eva, please don’t. 

[187] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


That I can’t stand. You’ll go upstairs after supper, 
won’t you? ” 

How can I, with so much work to be done? We 
were glad enough to have Aunt Louisa hire us when 
we were homeless in the road. Besides I’d like to 
dance a little.” 

Are you going in? Stay here a minute, won’t 
you? I wish the stage would come. The new driver 
is slow on his first trip.” 

She did not answer, but she lingered beside him, 
with a loyal and gentle air. 

George could see a whole set of bright hopes 
destroyed and in a short while have them all 
replaced with others. Often as he had appealed to 
her, each time he thought that perhaps now she would 
relent. He said, presently, “ I saw the boy today. 
One of the girls had him out in a handsome, new 
baby-carriage. He was fast asleep.” 

Eva gave him an observant glance. 

“ What are we going to do? ” he asked. 

“ Yes, what are we going to do? ” 

As he continued to look at her urgently, she said, 
with quiet intensity, That one day when we were 
alone it seemed as if I sent out roots into the place. 
Oh, I could love my own home! ” 

Let me buy that farm south of Yost’s with 
Father’s money.” 

“And live with a mortgage, worked half to death, 
as I lived at Mount Misery? I know what poverty 
does; I grew up in a poverty-stricken household. It 

[i88] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


is better for my baby to be where he is.” 

In silence George waited for whatever she had to 
propose. She brought it out. 

“ We must go to the city.” 

“ Is that it? ” 

“ Can you bear to stay here, George? ” 

Not here at the Crossed Keys. I understand 
farming. In town I don’t know how it would go.” 

“ There is no advantage for us in farming anywhere 
except at Yost’s. In town it is easy to make money. 
There is your music.” 

“Don’t bring that up, I tell you! That’s gone. 
My voice is nothing. My hands are stiffer and stiffer. 
I’m ashamed to show my face in the choir anyhow. 
No, it’s over — that bird is dead. To blow a cornet 
in the band and make half a dollar extra for you — 
that’s my mark now.” 

“ Don’t talk so loud.” 

“ Oh, I’m quite sober. I’m going to stick to what 
I know; and I’d rather live hereabouts. I’d like to 

do the right thing by Mother too.” As Eva’s lips 

* 

remained tightly closed, he added, “ It’s hard on you, 
dear. I want to give you everything a woman wants.” 
“ You pull one way, I the other; and here we stay.” 
They moved apart, with a little fear. 

“ I must go in now,” she said. 

“ Think it over, dear.” 

So that he should not witness her return to the 
dining-room he walked hastily away from the window, 
then stopped and gazed about him. It was growing 

[ 189 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


dark. In the west hung narrow red clouds, and the 
mountains looked almost black. The water-trough 
dripped steadily. The dogs got up and flung them¬ 
selves down again and again. He was conscious of 
his hands, which had not felt clean for weeks, and of 
his dirty clothes; he shivered unexpectedly. The 
world seemed empty, with a vast, dull pain somewhere, 
not his exactly, but which he had to share. 

“ I wish I had someone to talk to me,’’ he said to 
himself. I wonder what Father would think of my 
way of living; and what will my boy think? I wish 
I could forget that I am a poor soul. Why do I stand 
around out here? I’ll go in and eat. There’s the 
stage.” 

Rather eagerly he watched the cumbersome thing 
coming along the road and into the stable-yard. He 
wanted to see the new driver. The driver descended 
from his seat and unloaded the freight while the 
passengers dispersed. He was tall, considerably under 
thirty, dressed in well-made, old gray clothes. A 
beam of light from a door just opened fell across his 
face as he turned, and showed him looking half asleep, 
but his features were handsome. Pleased to find 
such a companionable man, George approached him as 
if he were a visitor at Yost’s, and the stranger answered 
the greeting with a slight nod, glancing leisurely about 
over the premises. 

X “ Aren’t you rather fresh for a hostler? ” he said, 
amiably. Here is what you want. Take good care 
of my horses.” 


[ 190] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


As he offered to lay some money in George’s out¬ 
stretched hand the latter turned his back and walked 
off to the farthest and darkest corner of the yard. 
The driver moved toward the porch, where Eva was 
standing in the light which streamed through the 
doorway. 

“ She saw that; she heard,” George thought, and 
swore to himself. 

The stage-driver went on until he was not more than 
five feet from her. Where shall I put the mail- 
bag? ” he inquired, in dialect. 

The man who comes for the mail-bag could not 
wait. My husband will take it to the post-office.” 

Motionless, she surveyed the stranger with calm, 
smiling eyes, as he stood quietly looking up at her. 
Presently she remarked, You are just in time for 
the party.” 

“ Are you going to have a party? ” 

With long strides George came out of his corner, 
leaped ostentatiously up the steps and placed himself 
close beside her. 

This is my husband,” she explained, flushing. 

We are only here temporarily.” 

The driver gazed at them deliberately and without 
answering strolled away to the bar-room. Eva 
vanished into the house. George stood where he was. 
It amused him to have asserted himself to this fellow 
clownishly. He was about to go, in a state of satis¬ 
faction, to get his supper, but a loud voice called an 
order to him; and dishes were rattling and suddenly 

[ 191 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


there was a great flying about as the guests began to 
arrive for the apple-butter boiling. Footsteps and 
gay talk came nearer along the street. Carriages 
drove up. By the time he had finished at the barn 
the party was in full swing. He carried all the tubs 
and apple-bags to their places, hurrying back and 
forth before the nicely dressed girls. 

The hunters smoked in the bar-room. Numerous 
young men who looked as if they were waiting to be 
wound up stood about outside. Before long the com¬ 
pany settled down in groups to the business of the 
evening, and the many conversations made a loud 
hum. Quantities of apples as they were pared went 
thudding into the tubs. When instalments of them 
were turned into the boiling cider, its delicious odor, 
already spread over the place, became stronger. 
Louisa herself began the stirring, and hauled the long 
crank back and forth vigorously, with a proud air. 
Since this operation could not be allowed to stop for 
one minute six or seven responsible women stayed 
near the kettle and took turns. After gossiping a 
while they began to talk about death and the most 
serious occurrences of life, while the fire burned red 
and blue and more stars came out. 

There was dancing in the parlor until past mid¬ 
night; but George could not take part in it; he belonged 
with the band, which stood in the street and played. 
After about an hour and a half it became quite hard 
work to stand up with the cornet and blow. His 
lessons on that instrument had been few and a joke; 

[ 192 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and he made the leader nervous by being very loud at 
times, so that the tune was drowned out. He looked 
on at the party, watching it through the windows when 
he was not working at the music; and what he saw in 
that intermittent way appeared as sudden and bright- 
colored as a phantasmagoria flashed by a magic lantern. 

It was a very successful occasion, quite up to 
Louisa’s expectations and with no wallflowers. The 
hunters were sought after, their shooting-clothes con¬ 
spicuous; all the girls seemed very gay. Eva danced 
three dances, one with the stage-driver, who after that 
looked on for ten minutes and then went out. Another 
supper appeared, cold but handsome, with impressive, 
unusual pies and piles of pink pickled eggs. Every¬ 
body enjoyed it, including George, who got something 
to eat at last. 

At two o’clock the party still kept up; the guests 
went away gradually. The Crossed Keys was in 
disorder from end to end, and it was beginning to rain. 
After giving him strict directions Louisa left George 
alone in charge of the apple-butter, which boiled and 
boiled. The yard had become perfectly quiet. The 
dogs slept where they were tied. The fire flickered; 
the rain touched his face; music that he used to play 
went running through his head. 


[ 193 ] 


CHAPTER XX 


HE northeast wind, blowing before the equinox, 



made a wild rush across the fields; the spruces 


in front of the house bent and sighed. Christiana 
raised her eyes to a window, and thought, What a 
dark night! And Luther is lying out there! ” 

Though it was very late, and a lonely evening, she 
stayed on beside the sitting-room lamp. That room 
was the heart of Yost’s; she had known John George’s 
black walnut secretary and the glittering old lustre- 
ware all her life; her eyes met the eyes of her parents 
and of her son in pictures on the wall. She knitted 
steadily while carrying on an imaginary conversation 
with Luther, her old friend. To him, for many years 
the only person who pointed out her mistakes with 
understanding, she now mentally appealed, in her 
stately solitude, and he comprehended perfectly. 
There was no point at which she wished to have acted 
otherwise, she wistfully told him. She understood that 
the divine will was done, the divine judgment made 
clear, by the transmission of human experience; that 
was its channel. But who had been taught or in any 
way benefited by her troubles? She asked Luther 
that. A sharp pain went through her when she real¬ 
ized that he was gone; she wanted him very much. 


[ 194] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


To live on in the dear old place was a great happi¬ 
ness, she said to herself. And she had the boy. He 
would care for Yost’s after her death, and perhaps he 
would be fond of her. At her age a woman wanted 
the affection of a child more than any other love: it 
was the kind best worth having. 

“Love! Grown men and women do wrong, and 
give that as their reason. If they believe what they 
say, they are blasphemers. My son is one of them; 
and for this common girl. If that is love, it is a 
4 poisonous thing. I am not strange to it, but it does 
not make me false and servile. — What’s that? ” 

It seemed to be a step outside on the flagstones. 
Christiana looked at every window alertly, but there 
was nothing there, they were rectangles of empty 
black. 

“ People say that Grandfather Yost walks over some¬ 
times to see how it goes here. Tonight I would not 
close the door against a ghost if it were my own kin. 
Oh, if I could have a talk with one of my own! ” 
Certainly that sounded like a step, like something 
restless wandering around the house. She heard it 
several times; then it stopped, and she forgot it before 
long. The clock ticked; the yarn continually ran off 
the ball and was used. Her soul felt naked and 
solitary, surrounded by empty space and moving on 
with time, she did not know where. 

She began to feel an uneasy sensation, and she 
knew that there were eyes fixed on her, watching her 
from somewhere. After being conscious of them for 

[ I9S ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


several minutes she heard a faint, distinct noise, at 
which instantly her mind pictured a hand tapping with 
one finger-nail against glass; but nothing showed itself 
at any of the windows. 

Is someone about? she thought. I need a 
dog.’’ 

Although neither sound was repeated she opened a 
window and leaned out. A warm, lifeless quiet pre¬ 
vailed; the darkness smelt of autumn leaves. She 
stood looking steadily into it until her eyes adapted 
themselves, and the velvety black seemed to thin in 
places and become lead-color. Then, as if one of 
the departed, with whom she had been living all 
evening, revealed his silent presence, there stood a 
man where a moment ago she had seen nothing. Just 
within the illumination from her lamp, he appeared 
shadowy, with blackness all around. He was a young, 
powerful man; his expression was sombre; he observed 
her indifferently. 

After waiting a reasonable time she closed the 
window and returned to her chair. 

If that is a spook,” she said to herself, in broad 
dialect, “ it is not Grandfather Yost, and never was. 
He wouldn’t look like that. I wonder who it is; I 
wonder what it wants. I hope nobody else will see 
it. I might have trouble with the girls. A spook! ” 

Feeling quite pleased, she began to knit again and to 
think of her difficulties hopefully. Eva would not be 
Louisa’s servant long; she would break out somehow, 
and then possibly George would come back. Christiana 

[196] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


did not define what else she anticipated for Eva; she 
left her to Providence. 

Ah! ’’ 

The Georgian doorway was not twenty feet from 
where she sat, and the curved sashes of the side-lights 
looked very white against the dark beyond the panes. 
A knock, hardly more than a brushing against the 
door-panel, made her listen not only with her ears 
but with her whole body. Then a cautious scraping 
began inside the lock; and the key fell out on the 
floor. 

This is different from a spook. How often have 
Luther and Louisa prophesied that I should get into 
trouble through counting my money when the blinds 
were up! There isn’t a man nearer than the tenant- 
house. I won’t call.” 

Quietly she took her revolver out of her desk, and 
held it low while she opened the door with her left 
hand. 

Good-evening,” said a courteous voice. 

Good-evening.” 

The man she had seen stepped in and she permitted 
it. 

What do you want? ” she inquired. 

I want to make your acquaintance.” 

“ Who are you? ” 

“ You don’t need that revolver.” 

'' How do I know that you will not try to murder 
me? ” she asked contemptuously. 


[ 197 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Well, how do you know? Hadn’t you better not 
provoke me? ” 

He followed her into the room, and waited for her 
to speak. 

Why did you act so foolishly? ” she said. 

“ I wanted you to understand that I was coming in. 
You don’t seem to be frightened.” 

‘‘ It’s burglary.” 

I knew you wouldn’t scream. This is not the 
first time I have watched you through that window.” 

“ State your business.” 

Yes. At this time in the evening we shall not be 
interrupted. I have looked forward for a long while 
to meeting you. I find that you are very highly 
esteemed. All the Middleport people are ready to talk 
about your affairs. By the time I got to the hotel on 
my first trip I knew a good deal; and I have become 
acquainted with your son, too. Well, Yost’s is a 
splendid place. You must be very proud of your, 
handsome daughter-in-law.” 

Will you say who you are and what you want? ” 

“ Certainly. I am the new stage-driver. I rose in 
life, and bought the route because I wanted time to 
see the lay of the land here. Formerly I was a horse- 
swipe. That’s a man who looks after a race-horse, — 
not the trainer, you understand. The swipe feeds the 
horse, grooms him, and watches over him night and 
day. For pay he gets enough to keep him in rotgut — 
cheap whiskey; he wears anything in the shape of 
shirt and trousers that he can lay hold of, and sleeps 

[ 198] 


I 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


against the horse’s belly. You didn’t know there were 
men in the world living like that. I’ve been a jockey 
too, when I was a little fellow, before I grew too big 
and heavy to ride.” 

‘‘ Where were your parents? ” 

Swipes are like shad-flies: nobody asks where 
they come from. My mother died not long ago. 
She was a chambermaid at the cheap hotel in Read¬ 
ing where I was born; she peeled potatoes and 
scrubbed floors. How she had to hustle the buckets! 
Anybody could have cheated her.” 

Christiana watched him closely; but she was not 
harrowed at all, nor in any way affected by his peculiar, 
impassive insolence. It appeared not to make the 
slightest difference what she said to this stranger, at 
such an hour, in these queer circumstances; and one 
thought, habitual to her lonely mind, was all ready to 
burst out. 

“ I hope there may be a good, real result somewhere 
from cheating and lies and every kind of falseness.” 

He looked as if he had found something unexpected 
which pleased him. “You can’t sidetrack me; but I 
admire 3^ou,” was expressed in his face, which suddenly 
became animated and rather boyish. 

“ Maybe your mother was lucky,” said Christiana, 
eagerly. “ How about your father? ” 

The visitor smoothed his long moustache, and 
observed her. She appeared a fresh, handsome, 
unsatiated creature. 

“ My name is Beneval Gartman,” he remarked. 

“ Is it? ” r T 

[ 199] 


CHAPTER XXI 


HE twilight had grown dark enough to make it 



A hard to recognize anyone except an enemy or 
an object of love. A surprisingly loud sound was 
caused by George’s steps as he came along, the only 
person on the street in the whole length of Middleport. 
He walked with his eyes fixed on the ground, whistling 
faintly. 

On Louisa’s front porch Nicholas Siess was sitting 
in a corner all by himself. There he had been for an 
hour. He was tired enough to be aimless; he kept 
putting off the long drive home to the Seven Stars; 
and his angry disappointment did not abate at all. 
Being hard pressed for money, he had counted on 
having the polls for the coming primaries located at 
his establishment; and he had gone to Reading on an 
unseasonably hot day, and offered a certain sum in 
the proper quarter, only to hear that elections would 
be held in Middleport as usual. He was not even 
sure whether he were encountering the scorn of the 
virtuous or whether what he could afford were not 
enough. Nothing was to be done except to travel 
back again, over a hilly road full of stones and ruts. 
He had felt inclined to view his competitor’s premises, 
so he had stopped at the Crossed Keys, where all was 


[ 200 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


neatness and prosperity; and when he ordered supper 
Louisa had said, My stove is cold. You want to 
talk to me? I don’t want to talk to you.” 

As he recognized George loitering and peering at 
him his rancorous thoughts turned in another direction. 
He pitied his daughter Flossy for her deficiencies, and 
was fond of her. More than once, after her hero 
ceased to appear at the Seven Stars, he had come upon 
her weeping; and it gave him a strange feeling to 
remember those tears, though she was now not so 
badly married.” 

George said, How are you, Nick? I didn’t know 
you in this light.” 

“You haven’t been at my place lately. Even 
Valentine doesn’t talk about you any more. I heard 
you were hostler here, but I didn’t know how to believe 
it,” Nicholas responded; and they shook hands. “ The 
hound! ” he thought, with a surge of antipathy. “ I’d 
like to kick him. He didn’t care how much poor 
Floss suffered.” 

No one drove up, and there was no sound of teams 
in the stable-yard, so George lounged and watched 
Mary walking about in her garden. His civil questions 
were answered absently from the arm-chair under the 
trumpet-vine. Presently Nicholas said, “ I v/ant to 
congratulate you on your young step-father.” 

“ What’s that? ” 

“ Didn’t your mother tell you? She oughtn’t to 
have let you hear it from a stranger. That fellow 
Gartman who drives the stage, he visits her every 

. [201] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


evening,” Nicholas answered, as if he grudged the 
information. 

You liar! ” 

“ That’s no lie. Everybody who passes that way 
sees them sitting together, blinds up, like an old couple. 
The boys at my place have lots of fun about Gartman’s 
elderly girl. Ask any of them. I was surprised to 
hear it of Christiana Yost. Does he intend to marry 
her, or what? ” 

I’ll shut your mouth.” 

Hold on! What good will it do you to fight me? 
Gartman started off to your mother while I was sitting 
here. Yes, it always makes a big difference to grown^ 
children. No doubt she can will away every stick. 
I think he will marry her.” 

Nicholas raised his voice so that George should 
hear the last words although he had gone into the 
house. 

He needed Eva, to be soothed by her, to have her 
for a partizan, while he did what a man should. He 
tramped through the hallways, and startled her in the 
semi-darkness outside their bedroom door. 

What is it? ” she asked. I ought to change 
my dress.” 

I must see you. It’s about Mother. An ugly 
thing is being said, — oh, it’s an outrage! ” 

Indeed? What? ” 

I don’t want you to know anything about it. I 
can’t question anyone about it. This would not havQ 
happened if I had been where I belong; but I turned 

[ 202 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


my back on her, and they all thought she was 
defenceless.’’ 

“ Did you hear the story just now? Perhaps it 
will not amount to much.” 

'' A scandal is being spread about my mother,” he 
repeated, haughtily. '' I am going now to tell her that 
tomorrow we shall come home.” 

With quiet movements, keeping her eyes lowered, 
Eva lighted a lamp, while he stood looking at her 
urgently. 

You want me to protect my mother, don’t you? ” 

Do you think she cares to have us at Yost’s? ” 

I know she does.” He had affirmed this before, 
many dreary times. 

You know how she feels toward me.” 

We can’t consider that now. She’ll get over it. 
She must.” 

You demand what I hate the very worst.” 

You wouldn’t refuse. This concerns us all.” 

This time — will you be stubborn this time? ” she 
thought. “ Can’t I reach him? ” 

, Seeing that she grew very pale, he put his arms 
around her. I wouldn’t have you hear it, I wouldn’t 
have it touch you; but I’ll tell you the facts if you 
want to judge for yourself. For the boy’s sake we 
can’t let this pass,” he pleaded; but she did not yield 
at all, and presently freed herself, and stood still and 
pensive. “ I’m an old story to her now,” he thought, 
watching her, fighting hard against her charm. 

She took off her apron, surveyed it, and dropped it 

[ 203 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


on a chair. “ George,’^ she said, abruptly. “ I can^t 
go back there. It would make a devil of me.” 

Won’t you stick to me? ” 

She moved away to the window, and looked blankly 
out where the trees were tossing. 

Now I must go,” he said. 

Imaginary scenes passed through her mind, memories 
and much that she feared. “ Where can I go? ” she 
thought. This will happen, or that will happen. 
Whichever way I turn — How splendid my husband 
used to be.” 

“ You know what I shall tell Mother.” 

“Yes,” she murmured; and she went slowly across 
the room, and began to run a comb through her hair. 

“ You will be glad, I think, after a while,” he said, 
with his eyes on her impassive, bright-hued reflection 
in the glass. “ She can’t give in,” he thought, the 
more regretful because her open resistance had been so 
brief and depressed. “ I’ll make it up to her, poor 
darling.” 

Now the important thing was to see his mother, to 
find out what could have been the occurrence associat¬ 
ing her with Gartman which had made Nicholas’s 
slander take this strange form, and to put the whole 
horrible story out of existence. He left the house, and 
took the short cut across the fields. Full of burning 
energy, he vaulted fences, waded in his hostler’s boots 
across the Northkill at a shallow place, went toward 
Yost’s. He looked to see the broad ray from his 


[ 204 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


mother’s lamp coming through the north window; he 
felt very near to her. 

At all the sitting-room windows the blinds were 
down to the sills, showing scarcely any light. Quietly 
he kept on over the turf. Even while he believed the 
story to be made out of whole cloth, an unformed idea 
that it was fair to spy out the presence of an enemy 
made him stop at the front door and look in through 
a side-light. He could see into the sitting-room, he 
took in the whole astounding scene. Beneval Gartman 
was there. Christiana and he were seated opposite 
each other, like two friends having a business conversa¬ 
tion. Money, a large amount of money —* green and 
yellow bank-notes in neat piles, stacked silver, little 
towers built of gold — covered the table between them. 
Although in that locality debts were almost always 
paid in cash George had never beheld such a sum as 
that; it would have put him on his feet and freed 
him from all his worst cares. He waited to see what 
would happen, and strongly repelled every impression 
that would make him credit Nicholas. Before very 
long the two began, still talking, to place the money 
in pouches and a wallet, which Beneval then stowed 
away about him. When that was done there came a 
pause. Then they both rose. They were grave, 
having reached a termination of some sort. Beneval 
clasped Christiana’s hand and regarded her intimately; 
and she turned as lightly as a girl, laid her free hand 
on his shoulder, and scanned his face. Her expression 
was at once wrathful and sad. 

[ 205 ] 


THE HOUSE. OF YOST 


She moved away with dignity when her son came 
bursting in. 

“ Is it you, George? ’’ she said, rather wistfully. 
As she remarked his crimson face and overbearing, 
excited manner the thought that he might be drunk 
went through her mind. “ Do you want to see me? ” 
she asked, speaking very distinctly. “ You must 
wait a while. 

George walked close up to Beneval, and said, “ Get. 
out of this house.” 

“ Is that all you have to say? ” 

“ Get out, or I’ll throw you out.” 

After a glance at Christiana to ascertain her wishes 
Beneval stepped back and stood passive. 

I invited him. I like to have him here,” said she. 

“ Mother, not an hour ago I heard an ugly report, 
and I’m here to tell you that we shall come back 
tomorrow morning.” 

“ What ugly report did you listen to about me? ” 

The answer formed in George’s mind, but could not 
be spoken. 

“ Whatever it is, you don’t believe it? ” 

I’m coming home,” he repeated. Will you 
have us? ” 

‘‘ You do believe it.” 

Christiana gazed at this recipient of her tenderness 
as if to identify him. “ No one could have convinced 
you of anything against your mother unless you were 
willing; but you credited the scandal from some loafer’s 
mouth.” 


[ 206 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ I did not. I saw the money you handed over to 
this man, a pile of money; and that wasn’t all.” 

What you saw was not for me. Listen: I know 
what the slander is,” Beneval said; and George 
understood that he did indeed know all of it. “ In 
these little towns there is no limit to what people will 
say, with their rancid minds. Most women are only 
so-so, and a man may as well pick a peach that hangs 
low. Your mother, however, is above the common 
run, afraid of nothing and as straight as a die. I 
came here for money and got it; but as to what you 
heard, it’s a lie, a fool’s lie, so help me God. Does 
that satisfy you? ” 

“ Why should it? What do I know about you? 
Who are you? ” 

Beneval looked amused, and there passed over 
Christiana’s lips a faint, momentary smile; it was plain 
enough to George that she joined with that other in 
deriding him. When she saw his bitter, miserable 
look her indignation died down no less quickly than 
it had flared up. 

“ You would not comprehend why I did as I did — 
not in this world,” she said, mournfully. 

“ I’ll stand by you, never fear.” 

But how can you blame me? Suppose I marry 
this friend of mine. You have done as you pleased 
more than once.” 

Mother, aren’t you ashamed? ” He stopped, and 
uttered no more until he had forced out of his mind 
the old idea of his mother, throne and all, and put 

[ 207 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


this new one in its place. I must speak: I’m Paul 
Stroh’s son? How could you bear the change? Was it 
just anybody, any sort of a living man — ? ” 

“Now I do understand,” said Christiana, slowly. 
“ Yes, you are Paul Stroh’s son. Now you must 
become acquainted with your brother.” 

“ Oh! So you too have done as you pleased.” 

“What? I? Of course you would think that! 
The change in her was frightfully sudden and violent, 
as if a mountain which had always been fertile and a 
bulwark blazed roaring into eruption. “ This man is 
also Paul Stroh’s son, his elder son.” 

George stood looking at his own hand, which rested 
on the table. 

“ I went through everything to keep it from you; I 
wanted you not to know as long as you lived. I 
bought the proofs tonight at an enormous price, and 
paid cash so there should be no signature or record 
of any transfer. Now I see that it is well for you 
to know.” 

She unlocked her secretary deliberately, and dis¬ 
closed an old-fashioned wooden treasure-chest, of a 
small size used for trinkets and papers. When she 
opened that George saw shabby things: a book, a 
little, black case for a likeness, a bundle of letters. 
The long unopened book was the Confessions of 
Saint Augustine, with Paul Stroh’s name in it, and 
many notes and marginal markings. George remem¬ 
bered his father’s face well enough to recognize the 
picture in the black case. The letters were addressed 

[ 208 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


to a woman. He unfolded one, and found Paul Stroh’s 
certificate of the baptism of his son, called Beneval 
Gartman, enclosed with another sheet. There long 
devotion and close companionship were written plain. 
After putting these papers back neatly into the bundle 
George laid it next to the picture and the book, to 
make a row. 

So you paid for that junk? ” he remarked. 

“ Don’t you believe what I told you? I know it’s 
true.” 

“ It is not.” 

You read what your father wrote. That is his 
writing.” 

‘‘ Forgery.” 

Tell him,” said Christiana. 

Beneval spoke unaggressively. 

My mother was the only child of well-to-do, 
dignified people away off in the hills in Schuylkill 
County. When she was a young girl, not twenty, she 
became melancholy, thought herself eternally lost. 
Somebody heard of Paul Stroh’s powers as a minister, 
and sent for him. It was one of his miracles; he made 
the most of it; he was a prince to her. Within a 
month she ran away from home, and though her father 
followed her he wouldn’t take her back, and she 
wouldn’t go. She never saw him again, or her mother. 

It was kept very quiet. Her parents were the 
only ones beside those two who knew the whole story, 
and they made up some tale. We lived in Reading, 
and we used to go to Philadelphia to meet my father. 

[ 209 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


He wanted to baptize me as respectably as he could, 
and they waited until they gave up hope; then it was 
done in our room, nobody there but ourselves, all 
kneeling along the bed to pray; and that was off his 
mind.” Beneval observed George out of the corner 
of his eye, and proceeded. “ This watch of mine was 
Father’s present to my mother one Christmas. You 
see it has only her initials and the date, nothing danger¬ 
ous. Of course we could never spend Christmas 
together; but that year he got away the week before, 
and came to us in Philadelphia, and took me to see 
the shop-windows. Then they still looked forward 
to being married; he intended to tell the truth.” 

Christiana, standing with clasped hands, listened and 
thought, ‘‘ And those days with her were his happy 
days, through all the years with me.” 

I won’t hear any more of this,” George said, with 
determination; but his voice sounded sick. 

“ One day Father visited us unexpectedly in Reading, 
running a big risk. I was told by my mother long 
afterward that he said he couldn’t live in that way any 
longer, and he couldn’t get free. It wasn’t in him to 
break away, poor devil! Then for four or five months 
he didn’t come near us. He had talked her into 
letting him end the whole thing; but to keep to that 
was beyond her. She thought she could come here to 
see him like any other person in trouble, so we 
presented ourselves one evening. You were at the 
gate.” 

“ Had you a lame rat-terrier with you? ” 

[ 210 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Yes.” 

Christiana and Beneval regarded George for some 
time while he paid no attention to them. His mind 
was laboring with certain fundamental facts of his 
own life, which shifted heavily into their proper 
places. 

It was my beauty,” he said to himself. “ My 
beauty! No wonder Father was bowled over.” 

Beneval continued, Your mother found us in this 
room, and sat talking to us; and Father walked in on 
the two of them. Of course he couldn’t carry it off, 
and the whole thing came out. They had it hot, all 
three. My mother and I were packed out of this 
house, you may believe. After that Father was with 
us occasionally; but he went down hill fast, and in 
about a year my mother told me he was dead.” 

Christiana in proud silence waited for what George 
would say. 

He said, Did he leave her enough to keep her 
comfortable? ” 

She allowed nothing of that kind; she worked.” 
Beneval named a cheap hotel in Reading. “ The 
people in the house let her alone, she passed for a 
widow, and except where he was concerned she didn’t 
care much. She landed where your wife has landed; 
but my mother never got away from it. Two months 
ago she died there.” 

George thought over this. Running back and forth 
through hallways, rendering intimate services, hearing 
indecent language, witnessing brawls and sprees, his 

[ 211 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


pretty lady had dragged along and died in the grime. 

He didn’t keep her under by bullying? ” 

‘‘No; and he didn’t deceive her. We got the 
leavings, but it was her own choice,” Beneval answered. 
He thought, “ What is hitting him so hard about 
Mother? My brother is a queer fish.” 

“ Why was there no divorce? ” 

“ Your mother wouldn’t give it to him. He begged 
for it many times that last year; he told her he would 
never drop us; but she stuck to it. She was no 
coward, to stand aside for us.” 

“ You did that? ” George demanded of Christiana. 
“ Was this too much for the Yosts? And so Yost’s 
held him till he died! Sneak though he was, sickening 
hypocrite, I believe he died of shame.” 

“He ashamed! He let girls and unborn children 
pay for what he took and enjoyed, — the meanest 
thief there is! ” Beneval said; and he cursed Paul 
Stroh thoroughly. 

Christiana, with a bitter taste in her mouth, replied, 
“ Your place is always in the other camp, isn’t it, 
George? With the poor souls, the paupers and the 
greedy.” 

Not noticing her, George opened the Confessions 
roughly, glanced into it here and there without knowing 
that he did so, and thrust it into his pocket. Then he 
left them. 

He went to the mountain. The night had become 
cloudy; the air was mild. As he raced up a wood- 
road only a few dim stars were shining in the strip 

[ 212 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


of sky between the tree-tops, and a light wind moved 
through the darkness over miles of forest. Desiring 
to get close to the earth, he turned into a footpath 
which he knew well, followed it for a short distance, 
and threw himself down under a pine-tree. He had 
dreadful feelings of brokenness and loss. Now he 
could never go home. There was no such place as 
he had believed his home to be, with its dignity and 
genuineness; there never had been. There was instead 
a large house where disgraceful things, well covered 
up, went on and on. His insults to his mother did 
not seem to matter, for there was nothing left of her 
either. He knew from experience what she was 
capable of in her lofty security at Yost’s; he knew 
exactly how she had gone about it when she over¬ 
powered Paul Stroll. As he went over the facts about 
his dignified mother, and his pretty lady and his 
saintly father, they mocked him. Plis whole spiritual 
outlook was mocked by the one whom he had imagined 
a spirit in bliss; he could not bear to be his father’s 
son. He thought of the Yosts who had died, and 
wondered what had been their ugly secrets. 

At day-break a flock of sparrows roused him with 
their twittering, and he moved painfully and opened 
his eyes. The spot was one he had known ever since 
he was old enough to climb the mountain; a drapery 
of poison-ivy on a cedar-tree looked rich red in the 
twilight, and green branches had red tips; the sweet¬ 
sounding wind through the pine-needles felt cold. He 


[ 213 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

slowly remembered that the world was changed, a 
charm gone forever. 

He needed time to bring himself to go down to 
Middleport, meet Eva and begin the day. He was 
too tired to have tact and initiative. For a while he 
walked aimlessly along the path through the woods; 
and on reaching an open space he stopped altogether, 
and stood gazing down on the village, the church and 
the shining stream. The sun was coming up: the 
wide country far below his feet rose through morning 
mist to meet the light; and one old, solitary tulip- 
poplar, struck by a sunbeam, was bright gold from 
root to top, in the midst of the eternal fields. 

The mood of the night and his wholesale distrust 
cleared away. While he stood looking at the peaceful 
land its strength came into him in a soft, limitless 
flow; he recovered the spirit of his forebears who had 
held that land dear. 

Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all 
generations.” 

What is past is done with. I am going on.” 

He brushed the spider-webs off the front of his 
coat, and started down the mountain. Now he was 
free. Every one of the enchantments that held him 
at Yost’s had been destroyed. He was poor, but he 
was free and independent, not tied to any place or 
obligated to any way of thinking. He walked fast in 
his eagerness to tell Eva that they would go that day, 
anywhere, and that he was all ready to take chances. 

It seemed that several people about the Crossed 

[ 214 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Keys looked at him oddly; then Louisa called him into 
the parlor and closed the door. Eva was not 
there. She had gone away in the stage, on the 
front seat beside Beneval Gartman. Louisa did not 
understand it. 


[ 215 ] 


CHAPTER XXII 


HE day wore on. Late in the afternoon Louisa 



1 sat in Mary’s workroom, which was full of 
sallow light, and gazed through a window absently. 
Mary kept on with her sewing although her hands 
were tense; she wore a little engagement-ring with an 
amethyst in it. Nobody came, nothing had been 
heard all day, nothing happened. 

I will wait one half hour longer, and then I will 
open George’s door,” Louisa said, scarcely above a 
whisper, although no one else was in the house. 

Are you afraid to open it? ” 

No, I’m not afraid; but this is a strange thing for 
him to do. I wish his mother were here.” 

Have you thought of sending for her? ” 

“ What could I say to her? After I told him about 
Eva he ran upstairs, and I heard his key turn, and I 
haven’t seen him since, but I can’t be certain that he 
is still in that room. I wish you expected Daniel.” 

He said nothing about coming today. Aunt 
Louisa, Dan would not want to be kept in the dark 
a moment.” 

“ Maybe Eva will step innocently off the stage this 
evening.” 

I am sure she will. How close it is! ” Mary 


[ 216 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


laid her work aside and went to a window. “ Why, 
look down the road! she said. Surely that is Dan.’^ 

He walked in buoyantly, as if he had reached home. 
When he grasped what Louisa was trying to tell him 
he stood still in the middle of the room and heard all 
she could communicate, and asked some brief ques¬ 
tions. 

Give me your pass-key,’’ he said. 

What are you going to do? ” asked Mary, who saw 
a delicate equilibrium threatened. 

“ Find out the facts. I have left Eva to Stroh 
long enough.” 

Probably it is all just nothing,” Mary assured 

him. 

“ I don’t believe anything of the kind about my girl. 
But who knows what her husband did to her? If he 
can’t give me a satisfactory account I’ll go after her 
to Reading. Louisa, I have very little time to get to 
the train. Send Sylvester word that I shall not come 
home tonight, will you? And keep everything as 
quiet as you can until you see me. It’s nobody’s 
business.” 

He knows at once what to do,” Mary said to 
herself, regarding him discriminatingly as he crossed 
the street. 

There was nobody in the hall at the Crossed Keys. 
The second story was deserted, and very quiet except 
for one sound, a hard, stertorous breathing in George’s 
room. Daniel knocked and tried the door. In the 
moment or two that he waited, listening, he said to him- 

[ 217 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


self that he might have known Eva would do this; he 
thought of her mother as he unlocked the door and 
closed it behind him. The light was dim, the air 
stale. George lay on the bed, stretched out in a pro¬ 
found stupor, shaken by his snoring breaths. His 
face was crimson against the white bed-cover; cob¬ 
webs and burrs from the mountain still stuck to his 
clothing, and one hand hung down toward the floor 
where he had dropped his bottle. After observing him 
attentively without touching him Daniel looked about 
and saw that the best of Eva’s dresses were missing, 
and that the wash-bowl held the burned remains of 
a letter. 

She has gone for good; and this man, this poor 
excuse, could do no better than get dead drunk. 
Whatever she may have done, she had reason for it,” 
Daniel thought, as he departed. 

He spoke to Louisa, who was waiting for him at the 
foot of the stairs, and to Mary across the road he gave 
a farewell gesture and a look. She felt unpleasantly 
surprised without knowing why; as she watched him 
gallop away she comprehended that there had been 
something unsatisfied in his manner, something doubt¬ 
ful of herself. It occurred to her that the tie hold¬ 
ing her to Daniel was frail and could be broken 
by a few words; but she thrust that out of her mind. 
There at the window she stayed until the stage came 
in. No woman was in it; she looked at the new 
driver and the passengers until they had all dispersed 
and it was certain that Eva was not among them. 

[ 218 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Whatever happens I am outside of it/^ she told 
herself. ‘‘What are George Stroh’s affairs to me? 

All the next day that window framed her profile; 
and half a dozen times an hour she glanced along 
the roads, but again no one appeared who might have 
been expected, from Yost’s, from Mount Misery or 
anywhere. Louisa came over to say that she had 
heard George get up and move about before dawn, 
and that she had slipped out and watched him go 
down to the creek, where he hid in the bushes. There 
was no more for her to tell. The evening was half 
gone when Mary, still gazing out at intervals, saw 
Daniel at the gate; she went to meet him in great 
anxiety. 

“ Did you find them? ” she asked. 

“ They are not in Reading.” 

“ Did you hear of them? ” 

“ Yes. Gartman sold the stage route a week ago, 
for a good price. I hunted the town over; and I 
found a man who saw him at the station, with a 
handsome girl all in new clothes like a bride. I 
accomplished nothing. I might as well not have 
gone.” 

“ What will you do now? ” 

“ What can I do? What good would a detective 
be, and court-proceedings, as long as she is with him? 
If she ever comes back I’ll take her in. I hope she 
knows that.” 

It occurred to Mary momentarily what life would 


[ 219 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


be at Mount Misery with Eva living there as her 
step-daughter. 

Stroh would have been in time if he had followed 
her; he could have brought her back, and that is what 
he would have done if he had been a man,” Daniel 
said. “ What about him now? ” 

‘‘ Hiding along the creek all day. Aunt Louisa told 
me. He hasn’t spoken a word, and looks wild.” 

I might have done a little more for Eva. I wish 
I had. She will lead an awful life at the mercy of 
that scoundrel. How can she have a moment’s 
peace? ” 

Seeing the slow moisture in his eyes, Mary said 
what she could. 

‘‘ It can’t be kept from Helen,” he continued, in a. 
few minutes. “ I’ll go now, and get that over.” 

Full of pity, Mary was also much surprised to see 
Daniel feeling so keenly and so outspoken about it; 
she forgot that he had seemed faintly suspicious the 
day before. That she herself was the object of his 
strong devotion — of that she did not want to think. 
She said to herself that it was beyond her to under¬ 
stand his feelings. 

Day after day went by her without any break in 
her mental isolation. Nothing was heard of Eva, 
gone as completely as if she had been swallowed up.. 
Christiana remained shut in at Yost’s. Occasionally 
Mary saw George moving about in the twilight, 
always alone, like someone haunted. He hid from 
everyone from morning until night, and when she 

[ 220 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


looked up at his window she could be sure that he 
was lying there sodden, or in some lair by the water. 

It was incomprehensible to her that with all their 
resources neither his mother nor Louisa offered him 
the least help. While Eva and he were over the 
way at the Crossed Keys, Mary had said little and 
given him gay smiles. Now the undercurrent which 
moved her was too strong. Something must be done, 
she decided. She did not know what in the world 
ought to be done; but if she talked with him some 
result would come of it. 

To have decided on even one definite step made 
her hopeful. She waited only until the first pleasant 
afternoon to try her venture. Dressed very nicely, 
to give herself all the courage possible, she watched 
for George until dusk; and as soon as she discerned 
him on the road she set out quickly, and did not care 
who saw her. He was tramping along, his shoulders 
hunched, his head a little to one side. 

Having caught up with him, she remarked, in a 
very clear voice, I wish you wouldn’t walk so fast.” 

Reluctantly, without looking at her, he went a little 
more slowly. He left her the footpath and kept to 
the middle of the road, his eyes on the ground; it 
was plain that nothing had any interest to him except 
his own thoughts. His clothing was soiled from lying 
about in the fields, and he appeared utterly neglected 
and deplorable. She regretted that her own dress 
was fresh and pretty; she was furious at everyone 
who might criticize him. 

[ 221 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Will you show me how to play some new music? ” 
she said, as she had planned to say. It came 
yesterday. Parts of it are too hard for me.” 

I can’t play.” 

“ I’m sure you can play this. Come and show 
me now, won’t you? ” 

Her plan was to invite him to supper; she had her 
table set out for it with all her best things. After¬ 
ward, if it were necessary, she would put the pro¬ 
ceeding in the right light to Louisa and to Daniel. 

George made no answer at all. 

She did not know what to say next; every subject 
she could think of was painful, she could not even 
talk about the choir. Walking composedly along 
beside him, she felt every moment more plainly that 
he wanted her to go elsewhere. Several times she 
looked sidewise in astonishment at him, so unkempt 
he was. 

“ George,” she said, quite indignantly, “ Don’t 
give up.” 

“ I’m not giving up.” 

Won’t you go home? ” 

‘^No. I can’t.” 

“ Go away somewhere then. Don’t be like this; 
it is the worst thing in the world,” she said, with 
sweet eagerness. 

“ You must not worry about me, Mary.” 

Of course he did not want her pity! She tried 
again: “You have your voice.” 

“ Not now.” 


[ 222 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“Has that gone too?she thought. 

“You had better not talk to me/’ he said gently. 

After waiting for her to say more if she wished he 
quietly went away. Mary walked on, crossed a field. 
Although the grass was cold and the wind was 
beginning to blow she sat down on a rock among some 
trees. There was nothing that she could do; and she 
felt so regretful and so futile that for a short time 
she would have been glad never to rise, to lay down 
her identity then and there, with all its impotence. 
He had not disgraced himself publicly, that he had 
not done, she said to herself — he who had been so 
superb. 

Although Louisa from her own porch had seen 
Mary start out and catch up with George she kindly 
asked no questions. For Louisa these were empty 
days. The solitary woman had no one but her friends 
to depend upon for a share of the pleasantness of 
daily companionship; and now Daniel never was her 
guest, and of Christiana she saw nothing at all. She 
thought of them constantly. Then her patience very 
suddenly gave out. Too much was left to her, she 
said to herself; she could not have it so any longer, 
and Christiana must do her duty. This revolution 
in Louisa’s feelings took place on the morning of 
election day. A great deal was going on at the 
Crossed Keys, with voters running in and out con¬ 
tinually, but she left everything and drove over to 
Yost’s. On the way she learned from one of 
Christiana’s employes that Mrs. Stroh was not look- 

[ 223 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


ing for a new head man. When she approached 
the house her eyes dwelt on the dignified gray front, 
and she reflected that for forty years she had been 
sure of a welcome there; the change which had come 
over everything was like the work of an evil spirit. 

At first she had hopes that her visit would be like 
old times. Christiana was all alone in the sunny 
kitchen, full of the fragrance brought by every breeze 
from the cider-making; she was kneading bread, and 
she looked cheerful as she went at the dough with 
her skilful fists and occasionally gave it a toss into the 
air. Her welcome was warm, although she ignored 
so much, and with such politeness, that the welcomed 
one felt quite uncomfortable. Questions about the 
baby and about Mary were asked and answered; then 
there came a long halt. Louisa sat perfectly still, her 
eyes fixed upon a large pink begonia on the window¬ 
sill. 

Christiana,’’ she said. “ I know it looked as if 
I didn’t sympathize with you when I took George in, 
and Eva; but I never meant it so.” 

Don’t think about it. I don’t.” 

“ Now I must tell you something; and I don’t want 
to do it.” 

“ What is that? ” 

I can’t keep George at my house any longer.” 
Louisa made her statement in such a manner that it 
became a strong entreaty. 

I was never willing to have George there.” 

Since Eva deceived him — ” 

[ 224 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


I knew she would. It is no good to me, now, that 
she is gone.’^ 

Louisa was startled by Christiana’s intense bitter¬ 
ness. “ I’m meddling; but let me tell you how it is,” 
she persisted, very gently. “ George can’t work. 
He stays in his room all day long, or hides in the 
meadows; I hear him at night walking the floor. He 
was so erect and handsome. Now the girls are afraid 
and laugh at him.” 

“ I heard that he is silly with drink.” 

“ I know what he has done to you — ” 

“ Do you? ” 

“ But he is your only child. Look at the practical 
side. You can’t keep this up. Where can he go? 
If you don’t take him in there will be no place but 
the poor-house.” 

“ He left Yost’s,” Christiana answered, and went 
on kneading. 

“ You wouldn’t bear a grudge against him. Won’t 
you take care of him for Paul’s sake? ” 

Oh, let Paul rest! ” 

Your own flesh and blood — ” 

Our own flesh and blood wounds us deepest, 
Louisa.” 

‘‘ I would stand a good many such wounds to have 
a child of my own. Maybe George would not have 
chosen to come into the world.” 

I wish he never had.” 

Louisa looked at Christiana as if she saw her 
undergoing a grotesque physical transformation. “ I’ll 

[ 225 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


go/’ she responded. Don’t you blame Eva. She 
left her child in a good home.” 

Christiana said nothing at all. Louisa started out 
of the room, but stopped one last moment at the 
door. 

“ I couldn’t leave you in ignorance.” 

Louisa, don’t go away like that.” 

“ George’s name is in my will. I’ll spend some of, 
that money for him now; I’ll make him comfortable 
somewhere.” 

‘‘ No! You are not the one to do that! ” Christiana 
exclaimed. Her hands lay flat on the breadboard; 
she leaned on them and stared downward for a couple 
of minutes. “ I can’t let him suffer.” 

Oh, you poor girl, you poor girl! ” Louisa thought. 
Walking quietly back, she touched Christiana lightly 
on the shoulder, and sat down again. 

Louisa did not stay a great while, and nothing very 
practical was discussed; but when she started home¬ 
ward she looked about her with a sense of blessed 
freedom and peace, as if she had been relieved from 
severe pain. The ploughed land and the stubble were 
wonderfully colored, apricot, bronze, rose; white 
clouds, frayed at the edges like silk, floated across the 
glowing blue sky; on the slopes of the Blue Mountain 
lay pools of forget-me-not and azure light, bright as 
precious stones. She asked nothing more, nothing at 
all except to gaze at the hills and watch the gold¬ 
finches flying up from the road-side, and say to 
herself that she had Christiana back. 

[ 226 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


A considerable uproar, a long way off but coming 
nearer, caught her ear — shouts, horns blowing, 
banging on a tin pan. Louisa turned into the Blue 
Mountain road and looked to see what was going 
on; instantly she was alert to get back to business; 
she seized her whip and whipped her contemplative 
horse to make him cross the bridge first. She would 
not be a part of that procession. 

I knew Nick Siess would try to spite me on 
account of the polls. I hate that man,” she reflected, 
as she went bumping along. 

The patrons of the Seven Stars, travelling in two 
hay-wagons, were on their way to vote at the rival 
establishment. The centre-piece in one wagon was a 
couple of kegs, around which the men sat where they 
could find room. In the other with a few intimate 
friends Nicholas rode, wearing a shady hat and 
reposing in his yellow arm-chair. Louisa’s stony 
answer to his Good-day amused him. When they 
reached the Crossed Keys none of them paid any 
attention to her or spent a penny; they walked in, 
voted and walked out, and carried their supplies 
across a couple of fields to the creek. 

The day was unseasonably warm; unexpected 
birds, transient visitors, peeped out of the shrubbery 
and flitted about. Between the greenish yellow 
leaves which still clung to the tops of the water- 
beeches the sunshine flooded down bright and hot, 
and there was such a languor in the air that the men 
were glad to throw themselves on the grass. Immedi- 

[ 227 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


ately an open-air bar-room was started, with card- 
games, and cigar-boxes moved from hand to hand. 
Nicholas Siess sat by the kegs, with his back against 
a tree. Valentine’s ankles made two bright spots on 
the turf. Joe had done a day’s work in half a day 
so that he could join the party, and he now fell asleep 
in the shade of a bush. It seemed like Sunday. 
The voices sank to a peaceful murmur while political 
questions of vast scope were debated but not settled, 
and many stories were told. 

Without noise a face came looking through Joe’s 
bush, a foot or so above the ground. It gazed 
drowsily at the merry-makers; a long-thumbed hand 
groped its way between the twigs and twitched the 
sleeper’s coat until he woke. Joe started to spring 
up, with a shock of disgust at this man lying along 
the water’s edge like a log. 

^^Sh-h-h! ” a deprecating voice said. 

“ George! Were you there all the time? ” 

‘‘ I was sleeping.” 

Joe immediately pretended to settle himself for 
another nap, so that no one should observe them, and 
the two lay there facing each other through the stems 
of the bush. Without desiring to speak George gazed 
across the green plain on which his cheek rested. 

After a while Joe asked, “ Will you come out and 
join the boys? ” 

“ I don’t want to see them. I’ll get away down 
the bank in a minute.” 

“ Look here. You come home with me.” 

[ 228 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


I couldn’t do that. I am going away. In a day 
or two I’ll be shipped from here.” 

I can’t see you like this.” 

I’ll be all right. You are the best fellow I know.” 

All of a sudden a startling change came over 
George’s face, as if he beheld something excruciating. 

“What is it? What’s wrong? Heavens! ” 

“ Not what you think. I’ve had the horrors three 
or four times but not now. This is worse. Some¬ 
times I see my wife right before me, in all her beauty, 
with her sweet ways. I want to touch her; and then 
I remember that she is spoiled. Those two met ghosts 
in the streets of Reading.” 

He rolled over on his face. 

A little later Nicholas Siess, who took part in the 
festivities only to keep them up, sat blowing one 
smoke-ring through another very nicely and eying 
Valentine without interest. The short, gaudy figure 
in its progress along the water’s edge reminded him 
of a jumping-jack: especially when it stopped short, 
uttered a scared noise and stood rigid. Nicholas 
was far-sighted; his eyes found what they searched 
for. 

“ Boys! ” 

“ What’s up? ” 

“ Do you see George Stroh? What a come-down! ” 

Nearly all the men went sauntering over to the 
bushes; Joe saw them coming and sprang up. Feel¬ 
ing himself caught, George also got to his feet. He 
was confused and tried hard not to show it, and he 

[ 229 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


succeeded in going to meet the crowd without stag¬ 
gering. He was well stared at as they returned to 
the kegs. 

He’s all dirty/’ Valentine remarked. 

‘‘ That was a long spree,” murmured Billy Hinkle. 

Beer? ” Nicholas greeted him, indifferently. 

No.” 

“ Whiskey? ” 

No.” 

‘‘ Have you money? ” whispered Billy, who had been 
studying him. I’ll pay. You have stood me many 
a drink.” 

George felt delightfully warm in his throat. When 
Ambrose asked him to play cards he ventured it, 
although he was not sure that he could follow; but 
it went quite well, and Ambrose gave him two 
cigars. As the time passed, an hour and more, and 
no one hinted at his troubles, he enjoyed the game. 
He was busy dealing when he suddenly looked up. 
Nicholas, sitting lopsided three yards off, had begun 
to watch him with relish. George felt himself slipping, 
he felt his wits grow more and more hazy; he feared 
that when the insults came he would not be able to 
understand what was said to him. 

Have a drink? ” asked Nicholas, pleasantly. 

George shook his head; unable to think of anything 
to say, he kept quiet. 

“ Won’t cost you anything if you sing us a song.” 

“ I can’t. I can’t sing.” 

“ Well, take it anyhow.” 

[ 230 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Nicholas poured a quantity of whiskey into a tin 
cup and George drank it. After ten minutes or so 
the cup was handed to him again. 

No, I suppose you couldn’t sing,” Nicholas said, 
seriously. 

I might sing.” 

That will be a treat.” 

Every face turned toward George, smiling and 
encouraging. He looked gravely from one to another 
as he made a great effort to recall any song, the 
beginning of anything whatever; but nothing would 
come. He strained to remember; small black words 
danced before him, melodies in his head undulated 
like gauzy rags. When at last he caught hold of one 
he burst out at once: 

“ Praise ye the Lord! ” 

“ Be quiet! ” Joe commanded. 

George glared at him. “ Praise ye the Lord! ” he 
repeated, with such an effort that it raised his 
shoulders; and on he went through the first stanza of 
the Whitsunday hymn. Not much was left of the rich 
voice; it was a shout, broken by piercing, vinegary 
notes; he could scarcely believe that the forlorn 
sounds came from his throat. Through the laughter 
and derisive clapping he sat mute. His eyes fixed 
on Nicholas, and he thought, “ I forgot that Siess is 
my enemy.” 

The conviction crept into his mind that Nicholas 
had discovered the truth about Paul Stroh, smelling 
it out like a wolf. He himself was a ridiculous, fooled 

[ 231 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


husband, as everybody knew; and these friends of his 
had seized upon the story about his mother. All his 
wounds were known to the whole world. Feeling that 
he must get away somewhere and hide, he sat still 
where he was, because wherever he went Eva would 
come out smiling. 

“ I should hate the fellow even if Flossy had not 
had her crying spells,’’ Nicholas reflected, staring at 
him. “ Here’s your drink, a good big one, because 
you sang,” he said. Your father-in-law has taken 
up with the daughter of old Shell, the old tramp, 
hasn’t he? ” 

“ I am being sickened at everything I ever had,” 
George thought, feeling pierced by that pair of eyes. 

You are paying a long visit to the elderly lady 
at the Crossed Keys, aren’t you? If she gets tired 
of it maybe I can make a job for you,” Nicholas con¬ 
tinued. “ I wouldn’t see you left in the dark about 
what was going on right across the creek — no! 
It’s too bad that your wife also took a liking to 
Gartman’s figure.” 

‘‘Shut up! ” Ambrose said, thrusting his frowning 
face forward. “ You can’t fool me any longer with 
that first story.” 

George succeeded in raising himself to his feet; he 
reeled toward Nicholas and struck hard at him. 
Overbalanced by his own blow, he fell against a tree, 
face first. When Joe lifted him there was a red cut 
across his lips, and he got rid of a quantity of red 
froth; he looked like a painted clown. 

[ 232 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Good! That will spoil his mouth for a month/’ 
Nicholas thought. ‘‘Why, George! ” he said, laugh¬ 
ing and offering a little more whiskey. “ You’re the 
brave boy. Nobody could make you peep.” 

All the onlookers were startled, and no one cared 
to speak. George began to feel very much afraid. 
His dread was that Nicholas, after all this mockery, 
would go on to utter some horrible taunt that would 
stick to him and brand him. He must not lay himself 
open in any way, he must assert himself and be equal 
to everything that came up, or he would be tormented 
and become the neighborhood butt. This filled his 
foggy mind. 

An effeminate kind of half-oath came from Valen¬ 
tine, who had slapped a mosquito and now stood 
scowling at his cuff. Great numbers of mosquitoes 
were about; the digging of a new canal near Middle- 
port had brought them out in swarms, the pro¬ 
tracted sultry weather kept them alive, and they were 
rapacious. 

“ You don’t mind them, do you, George? ” asked 
Nicholas. 

“ Mind what? ” George had apprehended that they 
were not real. “Oh, those? I don’t notice them. 
I could stand them any length of time.” 

“ No, you couldn’t,” Valentine snapped. “ There’s 
one on your cheek now. It’ll bite you.” 

“Don’t you call me a liar! I’ll take an affidavit 
to it. For a little bit of a mosquito — ! ” 

“ I’ll bet with you,” Nicholas said. “ Bet you five 

[ 233 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


dollars you can’t lie here stripped without moving 
for fifteen minutes.” 

‘‘ Yes, I can. I don’t want you to talk to me about 
anything at all.” 

‘‘ But you won’t bet? ” 

“ Yes, I will.” 

‘‘ Go ahead then.” Nicholas did not require that 
the money should be put up. The whiskey 
chatters,” he whispered to Billy. 

George rose, pompously; both Joe and Ambrose 
tried hard to stop him, but he commanded them not 
to interfere. He took off his few clothes, and laid 
himself down flat in the sun. 

Now,” said Nicholas. Fifteen minutes with¬ 
out moving, no matter how they bite. If you turn 
over on your back it will cost you five dollars. Here, 
before we begin, lift your head.” 

After he had drunk gratefully George subsided and 
buried his face in his arms, feeling contented and list¬ 
less. His skin turned blue, and the mosquitoes 
gathered and began to drain him, but he shivered and 
twitched and lay still. The men sat around him, 
joking and making side-bets while they kept their 
eyes on the watch which lay open on Nicholas’s knee. 
Ten minutes passed, during which Nicholas smoked 
and reclined in absolute inertia. Then he took his 
cigar out of his mouth, made a gesture with it which 
caught everyone’s attention, and held the burning end 
against George’s shoulder. All the lusty faces 
grinned. Joe’s was the only one that did not beam, 

[234] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and when he tried to protest the landlord laid a hand 
on his mouth. The smokers eagerly took up the 
sport. The victim winced; as the red spots on his 
body became more numerous he moaned a little, 
and pressed his face against the ground. It was 
Valentine’s cigarette, daintily applied to the sensitive 
flesh behind one knee, from which he could not help 
jerking away. 

“ I can stand the mosquitoes but not the damned 
horse-flies.” 

There was an outbreak of loud laughter. Nicholas 
announced, in a business-like way, “ A minute and a 
half short.” Some of the men jeered, some seemed 
disgusted; the laughter was slow to stop. Go 
back! Look out! ” shouted Joe, in the midst of it. 

While the crowd was becoming embarrassed and 
excited George sat still with his eye-lids falling over 
his eyes. Christiana came steadily across the meadow; 
and at a sign from Nicholas they all turned and 
walked off except old Billy. He blushed and assisted 
her with the helpless man. 

“ Come, George. Come, dear.” 

She put her arm around him for a support, and 
they went slowly away, his head hanging down 
against hers. 


[23s] 


CHAPTER XXIII 


B eginning to wake, George felt as if he were 
rising through still, black water. Although he 
opened his eyes wide he saw nothing, for it was 
intensely dark; and his senses seemed muffled. 
Very little life remained in him. I can’t move. I 
can’t keep awake,” he thought. He sank to sleep 
again, and had another struggle upward before he 
came to himself. 

Where am I? ” 

Not a sound from anywhere; the air was clammy, 
and he was cold through and through; the silent 
darkness felt heavy, pressing down and burying him. 
In great fear he began to grope; his fingers touched 
a wall, moved slowly along the back of a sofa and the 
edge of a picture-frame. He listened hard and 
heard a murmur which gradually became recognizable 
as the Northkill. What strength he had went out of 
him when he knew that he was at home. 

Chills kept running over him; his burns smarted; 
he felt very sick and wretched, and had a hammering 
pain in his head, which grew worse and worse, as if 
he were to have it forever. He longed for someone 
to be with him, but did not expect anyone for hours; 
he would have liked to groan. After a while he 

[236] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


partly recalled what had gone on in the meadow, that 
his friends from the Seven Stars had burned him on 
purpose, and that he had been a fool, such a fool. 

There was someone moving in the silent house; a 
quiet step drew nearer, and as the door opened a 
little yellow light appeared. Christiana came in, 
carrying a lantern, and wearing a flowing white night¬ 
dress in which she looked stately, and chaste. Softly 
she approached. After observing George she sat 
down near him and rested her head on her hand. He 
watched her through his eye-lashes, and lay quite 
motionless, fearing that she might speak to him. 
Presently he began to feel that he could not endure 
what she was thinking: she knew all about him; and 
here she would always be, she would never be far 
away, here at Yost’s, where old letters lay about and 
stale old gifts. Before long Christiana lifted her head,, 
rose, and opened a window with patient caution. 
In rolled the misty air, and he could smell the dawn. 
As she left the room he felt her backward glance. 

I can’t stay here.” 

The pain in his head pounded. 

“ Where are you, Eva? Why isn’t she with me? — 
I don’t want to touch her now. A girl in the street 
is better, she tells you what she is. — She had very 
rich hair.” 

With a rushing sound from far off the wind swept 
by; the lantern-flame leaped and smoked. Suddenly 
he saw her, not as he had imagined her many times 
before, disgraced and happy, with all her charms. 

[ 237 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


This was another vision. Thick, confused dark¬ 
ness seemed first to waver and undulate before him; 
what succeeded was not light but cold, stormy- 
twilight; dusky clouds were piling up across the 
firmament of a strange region floored with clouds, a 
vast, obscure space where the winds sighed. As if 
drifting with the air, along no path, for there was 
neither path nor foothold, she passed by him, a shadow 
with craving mouth and sad eyes. 

Eva is dead. Now she will want me. Let me 
catch up with her.’^ 

He could hardly stand on his feet, but he staggered 
ahead and dragged himself out of the house. The air 
was pungent, and there was the loud sound of a bird^s 
flight through the leaves. Though he looked north 
and south he scarcely knew that the bare fields were 
around him. At last he found himself before the barn 
door. With all the will-power that remained to him 
he kept on, hunting half blindly about the barn until 
he found what he required. He propped himself 
against the ladder in the feed-entry, and arranged the 
halter around his neck. 

Now! 

One long step forward off the ladder was followed 
by sensations of being violently uprooted, and seem¬ 
ingly the band of light through the half-open doorway 
wound itself round and round him with a great roaring. 
Then he struck the floor. 

The horses looked at him restlessly. When he 
opened his eyes one end of the torn rope was hanging 

[ 238 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


on his breast, the other dangled overhead. In great 
pain from a fractured wrist and leg, he tried to move 
and gave it up. He could see the red dawn of a day 
of bad weather; and a pigeon on the ridge-pole was 
softly repeating, Look at the fo-o-ool! Look at 
the fo-o-ool! ’’ 


X 



[239] 


CHAPTER XXIV 


IME scarcely moved; sometimes the minutes as 



X they passed seemed almost as tangible to 
George as grains of sand drifting against his body. 
He longed to become unconscious again: it was the 
same old world. He lay in apathy, so exhausted that 
he could not dwell upon anything and had to let his 
thoughts slip away after a moment. A storm went 
on during those days; the wind raced and screamed 
among the hills; then clear weather came, and winter. 
It was good to lie at home while bare branches shook 
outside the windows. Gradually the pain of his 
broken bones grew less; the splinted arm and leg 
made stiff ridges under the silk quilt, in which there 
was a good deal of red. 

Surprised to be alive, he felt like a stranger to 
himself. His sunny room looked strange, for a clean 
sweep had been made of every little thing of Eva’s; 
and Christiana had become quite an unfamiliar person. 
Just before he lost consciousness in the barn she had 
rushed in and hidden the rope. Since then everything 
he could want had been provided, with a kind air. 
In her goodness to him all his life she had been quite 
selfless, and now she sat by the window darning linen 
and was pleasant; the very vigor of her movements 


[240] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


as she took care of him brought it home to him that 
he could not move. When he watched her with the 
baby in her arms he knew that he had a great deal to 
decide; but he had to wait for all that. 

Freddy spent hours on his father^s bed every 
day. On a bleak Sunday afternoon in November the 
two entertained each other with a woolly toy for a long 
while, until the baby quieted down and was carried 
away fast asleep. Lying there alone in the warmth, 
George looked at a metallic red spot of sunshine on 
the wall, at the witch-hazel twigs with yellow blossoms 
in a copper lustre pitcher, and at the gray sky. He 
wanted to be out of bed; soon he would be ready to 
face the weather. He said to himself that now he 
would make up his mind what to do; he had put it off 
long enough. 

He set himself to reckon things as they were, and 
to make plans, which had to be flexible enough to fit 
in with the passionate determinations of several 
other people. Some kind of practical understanding 
he must have with his mother, if only for the boy’s 
sake. Her attitude toward Beneval could wait. His 
father — that light was out. The world he lived in 
had come to an end, and he would learn to live again. 

“ Eva is with Gartman, and I don’t know where.’^ 

This realization time and time again had sent him 
wandering among the meadows beyond the Crossed 
Keys. 

“My girl! My girl! What shall I do without 
her? ” 


[ 241 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


One expression after another of her beloved face 
recurred to him, one after another little, intimate 
charm; and at the same time he knew that he was 
forgotten. 

‘‘They are together, — happy! ” 

It was dreadful to be unable to reach Beneval with 
his hands. He was burning hot and dry with rage; 
his mind heaved with unbearable imaginings; he 
would have given everything he had for indifference. 

He thought of whiskey; it was a sudden thing. 
Drinking had been only a means of merry-making to 
him until he had recourse to it in his fury and despair. 
Now it seemed that some inward part of himself 
acquired an independent will, stirred, grew restless 
and threatening. He needed the warmth in his throat 
and the cheerful languor and the heavenly for¬ 
getfulness. 

If he rang his bell and demanded what he wanted 
it would most likely not be brought. His mother 
always kept a supply for emergencies; he had seen 
it in a corner of her bed-room closet any number of 
times. Though he had no crutches he could get 
there nicely by holding on to a chair and pushing it 
along. Back among the pillows, how he would feel! 
If she had taken it away he would hate her. 

As he sat up his head turned, but he was reaching 
for the chair when another idea presented itself: that 
a crippled man crossing the floor in that fashion, in 
night-clothing, striking monkey-like attitudes, with a 
quart bottle under his bandaged arm, was a perfectly 

[ 242 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


ridiculous spectacle. He could see it. While he was 
thinking about it an unconscious movement sent a 
pain straight through his broken leg. With his mouth 
pursed he looked down the silken ridge and reflected 
that the fractures would have to be reset, and that 
everybody in Middleport would know why. The 
jeers of his old followers in the meadow, which he 
could not forget, sounded in his ears. He laid him¬ 
self down in the bed. 

“ I never felt like this about a drink. I shall never 
be better able to quit than I am now. If I had been 
half a man I’d have had no time for whiskey that 
morning when I heard that she was gone. 

Can’t I stop thinking? ” 

Absolute blankness of mind for a while would have 
been the greatest blessing he could ask, but it was 
impossible not to think of Eva. The craving enemy 
within him had grown gigantic; with no hope of 
mastering it he held on to the idea that he must not 
give in. A numb, half-dead sensation spread all 
through him. A little drink now, and not only would 
this misery end but he would be well and everything 
would be easy. 

' No, I won’t! Oh, I am sick of myself, but this 
shan’t get the better of me! ” 

He was so exhausted that he could hardly breathe. 
Though he did not lose consciousness he felt himself 
sinking into darkness, which closed around him as he 
went farther and farther down. It was endless black¬ 
ness; he could not climb back, he might stay there 

[ 243 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


forever, wandering about. Help he must have, help 
from somewhere, if he were to live. 

He lay still for a long while, with his arm across 
his face. The copper lustre pitcher was faintly 
shining through twilight when he opened his eyes and 
drew himself into his usual position because he heard 
Christiana coming. At first she seemed unreal. She 
had an armful of his belongings from the Crossed 
Keys, and she began to put them away; it took her a 
moment to decide where the old Saint Augustine 
should go. 

“ Mother.’^ 

She went over to the bed. 

“ Is there any whiskey in your closet? ’’ 

“ No.’’ 

Her voice was placid, but slight signs of excitement 
appeared in her face: she had been apprehending 
dreadful scenes, and feared one now. 

I don’t want it,” he declared, turning away from 
her and settling his head in the pillow. 

That was a peaceful hour; but before long he found 
out that what he had to fight was the most unescapable 
thing in the world. It might creep on him at any 
moment; whenever he drifted into a jealous mood his 
thirst raged. Many a time he fell back into the dark 
place. 

Christmas passed, and New Year, and no news of 
Eva came to Yost’s, and no change at all took place 
there. As George’s strength slowly increased he 
became almost wild to get out; he wanted to guide a 

[ 244 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


horse again, and to go where he liked; but although 
the weather was remarkably mild nearly all of Janu¬ 
ary had slipped by before he was allowed any freedom. 
When at last he actually stepped into his buggy there 
was his crutch packed among the buffalo-robes because 
he might need it; but the winding road was before 
him, and he drove away feeling as if he could fly. 

The sky was almost as blue as in summer, and the 
hills covered with bare woods seemed austere. The 
distances appeared much greater than usual. Well 
as he knew the road, all the landmarks, the groups 
of trees and the windings of a slender stream, had an 
unfamiliar look. There was a sweet rustle of wind 
through dry corn-stalks; each willow-tree was sur¬ 
rounded by a net-work of orange-colored withes, and 
the briars had bright violet stems. As he saw the clear 
fields and the green winter wheat he longed to be at 
work again on the land. 

' He was also eager to encounter all the smiling con¬ 
tempt of the neighbors. As he greeted one acquaint¬ 
ance after another he kept looking for it; and he had 
a great surprise when they all showed more or less 
satisfaction at seeing him. He was slow to grasp that 
he was not regarded as tragic or absurd or very 
unusual in any way, and that his affairs were last 
year’s news. Ambrose was so anxious to shake hands 
that he backed his horse with considerable trouble, 
and he was full of inquiries. While answering them 
George noticed how tired and old his friend looked; 
he did not remember that Ambrose was like that. 

[ 245 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Other men whom he saw hard at work near their 
barns, and women stepping about on the porches, all 
had the same worn appearance. He perceived this 
for the first time: it was as though a special kind of 
light-ray, which brought out every mark of care, were 
turned on all these familiar faces. When he drove 
past the Crossed Keys he thought how clean and solid 
it was, standing there in the sunshine; he glanced up 
at the windows of the room which had been his. At 
the schoolhouse recess was going on; children were 
running and playing, and their woollen caps made 
bright red, green and blue spots bobbing about in the 
road. Hands waved to George as he went by, and he 
discerned the two small boys who had believed in the 
pretzel-tree, and saw that one of them had his arm in 
a sling. 

The little chap has cracked a bone too,” he 
thought. 

Not far ahead a woman in a purple hood moved 
along the road as if she had no interest in her destina¬ 
tion. She turned to gaze at him when he passed, and 
she was Flossy. After talking with her a few min¬ 
utes he knew from the expression of her eyes that 
she was always thinking about something she dreaded 
and could not understand. She pointed out the farm 
where her mother-in-law lived, and her own small 
house two fields away. When he asked what she 
carried under her shawl she answered that it was her 
baby. Rather reluctantly she opened the wrappings 
and let him see a very little, wasted child with a gray 

[246] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

face almost lost among cap-ruffles. 

Poor Flossy! Poor girl!he said to himself 
over and over as he drove on. 

The soft air began to feel cold, but he was not 
ready to go home; he wanted to be close to the hills, 
quite alone. A narrow wood-road with young cedars 
along the fences invited him, and he turned in and 
went upward gradually along the side of the Blue 
Mountain. It was much colder here; patches of white 
remaining from the snow-fall of December lay against 
the rocks. Dry leaves covered the ground, which 
was thawing, and many brown weeds still stood in 
their places and held up empty seed-vessels with the 
pale sunlight falling on them. Except a few green 
hemlocks all the trees were gray and bare; they 
crowded close together on every side, and between 
them the far distances appeared in a pearl-colored 
atmosphere. The silence was profound. Light 
clouds slowly mounted the sky. A crow flying west¬ 
ward, the only living thing in sight, seemed to be just 
under them. 

He was glad to see a cheerful flock of juncoes fly 
up, and glad to go toward home. As he came to the 
last curve in the wood-road he heard explosive bark¬ 
ing and saw Frogen among the bushes. The enthusi¬ 
astic dog had located an escaping something, and 
he was pursuing it, and while he dug and barked he 
lost two seconds recognizing the horse and George. 
Then Mary in her black clothes came around the 
curve, and stood still among the iron-gray trunks with 

[ 247 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


pearl-gray air back of her. 

“What are you doing away up here?” George 
called out. 

“ Taking a walk. I didn^t expect to come so far.” 

“ May I drive you home? I wish you a happy 
New Year. How are you, Mary? ” 

He had an impression that she shrank, but it was 
only momentary; she was smiling as she took the 
seat beside him. After inquiring how he was, and 
Christiana and the baby, she gave him the news of 
Middleport, beginning with Louisa, who had gone to 
Reading to stay two days and buy a good horse if 
she could find one. 

“ Mary, what have you been doing this winter? ” 

“ Oh, all sorts of things.” 

How many dresses she had made for customers, 
how many yards of lace she had crocheted, and that 
she had pieced one quilt and begun another, —< she 
told him all about it. So much vivacity repelled him; 
cheerful though she was, he found her cool as frost. 
He thought how lovely her eyes were; and how 
earnestly she had regarded him the last time they met, 
when he had repulsed her. 

“ What’s that you’re carrying? ” he asked. 

“ A cocoon.” She held out a long twig with what 
looked like a brittle, gray pod for him to see. “ I’ll 
take it home and put it up over the clock; perhaps the 
warmth of the house will bring out the butterfly 
before spring. There was a robin in my garden this 
morning, but he may be wintering here. When I see 

[ 248 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


the pussy-willows I shall be so glad.’’ 

She indeed gave him something to overcome. It 
was clear enough to him now that she was thoroughly 
alienated and trying to hide it; but in spite of that 
he was eager to let her know how much he valued 
her. 

And when spring comes your wedding-day comes. 
I hope you will be very happy, Mary.” 

Gazing into the woods on her side, she answered, 
I think we’ll be happy.” 

I’m glad I met you,” she said, presently, with her 
usual gentleness. “ I meant to write to you. Will 
you be at church on Sunday? ” 

Why do you suggest that? ” 

“You ought to take your old place at the organ 
4 and train the singers. I can’t do ^ it properly. I 
can’t play well enough; and they quarrel a great deal. 
I am afraid the whole choir will go to pieces.” 

“ They wouldn’t want me.” 

“ Everybody would be glad.” 

“ I have no voice. It is gone.” 

“ It will return.” 

That voice must return, she thought. She began to 
feel now that this thin, pale man was her old friend 
himself, though he had gained a different poise by 
going through awful things. 

“ I don’t believe I shall ever get back to music,” he 
said. 

“ It’s waiting for you.” 


[ 249] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“She thinks I could sing again; she thinks that 
possible,’^ he thought. 

He felt as though he were lost in the dusk and saw 
dimly a road which was probably the right one. 
Nothing more was said. When they reached her 
house Mary left the carriage very quickly so that 
he should not make the effort to help her. She called 
from the door-step, “ Don’t disappoint us on Sunday.” 

While he watched her unlock and open the door, 
with Frogen pushing in ahead, George noticed how 
still and lonely the place was, as if everything that 
went on there had come to an end. 

“ Dear little soul! ” he said to himself. “ She 
deserves better than Mount Misery.” 

When he reached home he could do nothing but 
throw himself on his bed and lie there flat and motion¬ 
less. He had the sensation that he was still driving. 
He remembered one view after another of the wood- 
road, all scarred, naked trees and broken stones. 
The friendly faces came back to him, Mary’s too, 
with their different records of care. There was a great 
deal to do in the world, it seemed; he would not live 
an invalid’s life another day. That very evening he 
came walking down-stairs and into the sitting-room 
without a crutch. 

“ Mother,” he said, eagerly. 

Christiana sat in her usual chair, with a box of gay 
silk patches beside her, knitting away at a luxurious 
rug like Mary’s. She fastened in a ruby-colored 
strip, and looked up. 


[250] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


What is it? ” 

‘‘ I am well now. I want to settle things, and get 
to work.” 

Without replying Christiana selected more strips, 
gray and blue. George knew well enough that there 
was no telling what would happen to the frail peace 
between them. After a short wait he went on. 

I want to know whether you will take charge of 
the boy; and I hope you will employ me again as 
manager.” 

I took the boy when he was handed over to me,” 
Christiana said, calmly. You are on your feet 
now.” 

“ Don’t you want us? ” 

What will become of the child if I don’t want him? 
But if I consent to take care of him and bring him 
up he shall not be carried off for anybody’s whim.” 

“I am so anxious to have him grow up here that I 
will sign whatever you like.” 

Very well. As to employing you, George, I 
expect to be competent to run the place for some 
time; and I don’t know how far I could depend on 
you.” 

Do you mean the drinking? I hope you know I 
would never do that again.” Even while he was 
speaking he remembered the frantic longings against 
which he had defended himself by childish prayers. 

Can I really be sure? ” he thought. 

Christiana knitted a while. Then, with a direct 


[ 251 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


look, she said, I will never again live with anyone 
who is repulsive to me.’^ 

She left him an opportunity to speak, which he did 
not take. 

“ I know that happiness is of very little importance 
because it is distributed so carelessly; and I can do 
without it. To be left in peace, however, I do expect.' 
Perhaps I shall be lonely. I am not afraid of loneli¬ 
ness. Sometimes I think that solitude surrounds 
every soul, always, to protect it, like glass around 
something beautiful.” 

I understand.” He paused because it took time 
to understand that his mother was ready to be rid of 
him and was dismissing him. “ Never fear, you will 
probably not see Eva again.” 

“If that is so I shall be more than glad to have 
you here, George.” 

“ Would you like to know what I am going to do? 
I mean to find her; I’ll pay what it costs. She wanted 
a little pleasure, a few pretty things; that was innocent. 
If she leaves Gartman I’ll give her some help; if they 
want to marry I’ll do all I can.” 

“It looks to me as though you would soon take her 
back,” Christiana remarked; and she continued, to 
herself, “ That woman will pretend to want the baby, 
and she will come here. George will be led by her 
to do anything. There will be no peace for him or 
me.” 

While he watched his mother’s hands moving inces¬ 
santly with the silks he thought of Eva’s satisfying 

[ 252 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


loveliness, and that now there was no place where 
kisses waited for him. 

He said, “ I will not take her back.” 

You don’t expect Beneval to marry her? ” 

George turned his head away. He felt able to do 
what he had planned, but not to discuss it. 

“I see! ” Christiana exclaimed. It would be a 
satisfaction to you to meet him with your fists or 
with a horsewhip, and to send him to jail afterwards. 
Don’t do it! Beneval has been a victim like the rest 
of us. Now let the old grudge die.” 

So her sympathies were there, George thought, with 
utter repulsion. “ I’ll not go until I have all my 
strength back,” he answered lightly. 

“ Do you intend to stay here? ” 

‘‘Yes, for the present.^ We’ll speak of that again. 
Good-night. Mother, have you that picture of my 
father? ” 

By the time she had opened the secretary and the 
inner drawer and had taken out the black daguerreo¬ 
type-case Christiana’s face had grown so steady in 
endurance that it was almost stiff. He looked at her 
closely, for he felt that he had never really seen her. 
As though the clear light in which he had read the 
neighbors’ faces now fell suddenly upon her, he per¬ 
ceived that her face was all marked and altered by 
persistent pain. He noticed that her fingers shrank 
from the picture as she gave it to him. 

Slowly he made his way up to his room; he found 
it quite cold, and he wrapped himself in a fur coat 

[ 253 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


before he sat down in the dark. It was a strange thing 
to be certain that he had never known his mother. He 
had blamed her and had taken her as a matter of 
course, but he had not tried to understand her life, 
and he had sided against her always. Now he felt 
that he must get at the truth; sleep would not rest 
him until he had done her justice. He tried hard to 
discern among prejudices and palliations the facts in 
the case between Paul and Christiana Stroh, and to 
see them from her point of view. But he could not 
keep a clear head when he thought of her attachment 
to Beneval; his detestation of Beneval confused him 
like a poison. 

To relieve his mind from it he lighted a lamp and 
held the faded likeness in the glow. How could that 
man with such a sensitive and candid face endure 
debasement, he wondered. He became certain that 
both his father and his mother had cherished their 
own sincerities, if only he could comprehend them. 
He recalled carefully what he knew about his father’s 
history: that he was poor, that he had come to this 
church from another state, that none of his relatives 
had ever been at Yost’s. George brought out the old 
volume of Saint Augustine, and sat down again with 
it and the picture in his hands. The frail relics were 
all he had to help him get at the truth, except what 
he could learn from his own heart. He had never 
examined the book; to touch it repelled him; he had 
glanced over a chapter or two, locked in his room at 
the Crossed Keys, consciously grotesque, with his 

[254] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


bottle beside him. Now he began to look through it, 
and to follow up the marked passages. 

Reviewing my most wicked ways in the very 
bitterness of my remembrance. — And what was it 
that I delighted in but to love and be beloved? — The 
invisible enemy trod me down. — There is an attrac¬ 
tiveness in beautiful bodies. — The life also whereby 
we live hath its own enchantments, through a certain 
proportion of its own. — I hate to think on it, to look 
on it.” 

These fragments occurred in the course of a few 
pages, and were bracketed so clearly that reading 
them without the context was like making out a very 
simple cipher. George discovered one after another 
with increasing excitement. It was plain enough why 
those sentences were marked: they had heartened a 
man who, as often as he was overcome by a hated pro¬ 
pensity, went fighting,on; in the isolation of his remorse 
they gave him a feeling of companionship. Time and 
again George followed the other mind over its 
shadowy trail. Paul Stroh’s judgment of himself 
was here, his explanation, his shamed pleas and the 
final loathing. He told them in the words of a prince 
among the saints in glory. 

Had that been all for the poor fellow, George won¬ 
dered. Had he stayed in those depths until the end 
came, or had he found some hope of his own? Many 
pages were turned before the next bracket appeared: 

who abidest, and recallest, and forgivest the adulter¬ 
ous soul of man, when he returns to Thee.” In his 

[ 255 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


eagerness to get at the reality of his father’s life which 
seemingly had all been false, this was an assurance to 
George; and there were many more following it, of 
the same drift. On the last fly-leaf some lines were 
written: “ Shall I give my firstborn for my trans¬ 
gression, even the fruit of my body for the sin of 
my soul? ” 

George put the book aside. 

What a life for a man! Trying to renounce, and 
always ending in ‘ I cannot ’; knowing he had done 
wrong and would do it again; dreading discovery, 
lonesome, preaching on Sunday. When Mother was 
the princess of this neighborhood why was that for¬ 
lorn girl thrown in his way? A prosperous beauty 
would not have touched him. What accurate cruelty 
there was in that chance! An enemy searching for 
ways to bring him down into the mud could not have 
done it better.” 

It had not been a trivial fate; it had become 
involved among primary laws which in this instance 
ran counter to each other. Apprehending this, 
George felt a faint return of pride. His mood under¬ 
went a change, as unobtrusive as if with the progress 
of the sun a shadow gently changed its place and no 
longer fell across him. He said to himself that all 
that was done for and far in the past. 

Now the urgent thing was to find out why his mother 
took Beneval’s part. It was impossible to accept that 
quietly and stay at Yost’s. He must have excellent 
reasons or he must leave her; but any question he 

[256] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


might put to her would be an insult, and there was no 
other way for him to get the truth. He suspected 
that a cleverer person than himself would make out 
a strong case for her on the evidence; but he could 
not, he had not mind enough. When he realized 
that fact it seemed that all the defenses of his 
individuality were broken; he felt utterly incompetent 
and futile; he hardly knew himself, there was so 
little of him. 

He began to walk about his room, opened a window 
and looked out. It was a mild night; above the 
mountains the stars glittered in great depths of 
black. 

God was out there among the scarred mountains. 
It was reasonable that it should be so. There must 
be strength somewhere because he himself was so 
weak; and surely God would rather be among those 
beloved mountains than in other places. A sort of 
dazzled peace came over him. 

Wandering back and forth, he found himself before 
the mirror, and gazed aimlessly. His frame of mind 
was so exalted that he was ready to believe in a 
mystical sanction for almost any new, sudden idea. 
Now a possible explanation of his mother’s actions 
occurred to him, which if it were correct would 
illuminate everything. He could not from the 
indefinite impressions of childhood recall his father’s 
face very clearly. He seized the daguerreotype and 
studied it; he moved the lamp, and looked down and 
up from the picture to the likeness in the glass. Not 

[ 257 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


he, broad-featured like the Yosts, but Beneval, with 
the long profile, drooping moustache and heavy-lidded 
eyes, was like their father. 

So when her own son deserted her Christiana had 
turned to the one who resembled the love of her youth. 
George used his knowledge of women to estimate 
this; he recalled her expression when she laid her hand 
on BenevaPs shoulder. Then she had not been a 
tyrant to her husband; she had dearly loved him. 
The idea of that smouldering devotion appealed to 
George like music. When he thought of her building 
the fire on the funeral-night, he knew, as he had known 
before Beneval came between them, that that was an 
act of wild mourning. 

He had been altogether sure that she refused a 
divorce at the promptings of selfish pride. Now for 
the first time he questioned what would have happened 
if she had consented; she would have seen her son 
burdened for the rest of his life and the whole 
neighborhood injured by such a scandal about the 
preacher at Yost’s Church. She had shielded her 
husband, she had protected them all. No doubt she 
knew that he had not long to live. Having learned a 
melancholy contempt for passion, she had thrown away 
her wedding-ring, and perhaps her vindictive memory 
went with it; perhaps, after freeing herself so, she had 
taken back to her heart its ideal. 

George felt satisfied that now he had the truth: his 
mother was a heroine of the type he most admired; 
he dwelt upon this as though he were looking at a 

[ 258 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


treasure. The mirror gleamed; he heard an uncertain 
growl from the watch-dog wandering out in the star¬ 
light. After a while something in the wall began to 
tick, and there was a rustling and cracking when the 
wind blew through the garret. Generations of his 
forebears had listened to those sounds; they were the 
voices of the house, which no doubt had had very 
different thrills when Paul Stroh was carried out and 
when the owners passed away. As he thought how far 
he himself had departed from the Yosts’ way of life 
he felt constrained to get back. 

How can I ask Mother’s pardon for turning against 
her, and for such suspicions as I can’t mention? How 
can she bear the sight of me? ” 

He went out into the hall and saw that the lamp was 
burning in the sitting-room though it was quite late. 
What could be done he wanted to do at once; he went 
downstairs fast for a man who had recently had 
broken bones. Christiana was really alarmed when 
she heard his steps, and turned toward him apprehen¬ 
sively without speaking. Her mood had for a long 
while been one of immobile sadness. 

It almost stopped him to find her so calm; he 
wondered that she still looked at anybody with 
benignant eyes; he was utterly without idea what 
to say, as he stood before her. 

Mother, I am very sorry.” 

His impulse to do what he could brought forth that; 
but he felt so regretful, he admired her so much, to set 
matters right was so impossible, that he could get no 

[ 259 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


farther. Christiana regarded him for a minute, dumb 
and still before her. 

“ Are you? ’’ 

She laid her knitting by, and her capable hand 
moved smoothly to a caress as he threw himself down 
beside her. 

That night passed in deep peace; the next day 
George felt elated. Not until after dark did he really 
think of Eva. He imagined her all by herself, tired 
out, walking long, muddy streets at night, under 
foggy lights. 

“ Wasn’t I as good a man as he? Oh, Eva, won’t 
you give me a thought? ” 


[260] 


N 






! 




CHAPTER XXV 


M ary and Daniel both noticed that it was 
rapidly growing dark; unconsciously they 
stopped talking. In the pause a continuous rushing 
noise from outside sounded stronger and stronger until 
the room was full of it. Mary went to the window and 
listened, with the last of the gray day-light falling over 
her; and Dan thought how graceful she was, and how 
her youthful dignity became her. 

“ You promised for this spring,” he said. 

She did not answer; she seemed fascinated by the 
loud sound. 

“ You know how long IVe waited. When will 
you come? ” 

“ Some time after Easter.” 

“ That will be — .” 

Not until the end of April. I’ll show you; and 
after tomorrow there is another Sunday in March.” 

She lit a candle and fetched her prayer-book for 
him to see the table of dates on which Easter falls. 

Then you don’t want to decide on the day? ” he 
said, watching her across the candle-flame. 

“ Easter evening will be a good time to talk about- 
that.” 

The light was not of much use where she placed it 

[ 261 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


at the other end of the room. She went back to the 
window, and Dan could see only her profile against 
the dusk. 

I never heard the creek so loud,’^ she said. It 
makes me think of the tone of the organ when I come 
along the road late to church.” 

“ The Northkill is higher than it has been in years. 
Since the ground-hog saw his shadow we have had more 
than enough snow for a whole winter; and the mild 
days this week have turned it all to water.” 

From his tone she knew that he was permitting her 
to put him off, but not for long. “ The snow went 
so quickly,” she hastened to say. On Thursday 
there were still drifts in that field over there. Yester¬ 
day the green winter wheat looked through the white, 
and I saw the brown earth this morning. The road 
to Yost’s must be flooded. 

“ How are they getting along at Yost’s? ” 

“ Nicely. Aunt Christiana is well and Freddy is 
growing.” 

How about his father? ” 

He works hard. Aunt Louisa says; and he has been 
in his place in the choir twice. He plays, but doesn’t 
use his voice much. 

You aren’t going? I wanted you to spend the 
evening.” 

“ I think I’ll start. Sylvester is away tonight; 
Helen is alone. I believe that by this time that little 
rivulet of ours has carried away our bridge. To go 
to the post-office and then get home by the road on the 

[ 262 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


other side of the hill will take me a while.’’ 

Mary went with him to the door, and they stood 
and listened in amazement to the tumult of the water. 
From her house, ordinarily, nothing could he seen of 
the Northkill except the trees and undergrowth along 
its winding course, but now they discerned through the 
dusk a gleaming surface. High-water mark had been 
passed in Louisa’s meadow; the stream had grown into 
a river. They heard it beating against the rocks, and 
the plash of many small waves, and grinding noises 
when pieces of ice were washed against each other or 
struck and scraped the trees. All could be distinguished 
in the rushing and moaning sound. In the other 
direction there went on an incessant patter and ripple. 
The springs were swollen full, the streamlets leaped 
down the mountain-side. 

As she listened Mary’s eyes brightened wonderfully. 
Dan thought her beautiful. 

Not afraid, are you? ” 

No, I’m not afraid. This happens every spring; 
the creek may be back between its own banks by 
tomorrow,” she answered, in a joyous voice, as she 
scanned the clouds. Then she gazed at him as if 
there were no break in her thoughts. Dan, all this 
time you have gone to the post-office every day, no 
matter what the weather or how busy you were. 
What do you expect in a letter? ” 

It’s too damp for you to stand here.” 

“ The air is almost warm. I want to breathe it.” 


[263] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Dan brought out a shawl and wrapped it around 
her head and throat. 

‘‘ Now tell me,” she said. 

I want to know where Eva is. Making her own 
way perhaps. Sylvester thinks so. I hope only that 
she may have left Gartman; but there is no one to 
take care of her.” 

“ That is a bitter sort of hope to have about his 
daughter,” Mary said to herself. 

“ At first I thought that if she came back I would 
let her stay,” Dan continued. 

“ You haven’t changed your mind on my account? ” 

Certainly I wouldn’t ask you to live with her, 
I wouldn’t allow it; but if you were never to be there 
it would be the same. I am thinking of Helen.” 

I believe Eva has left him.” 

‘‘ She was not happy at home, nor with Stroh; and 
she craves happiness,” Dan replied, sorrowfully. 
“ Mary is not much older than Eva; and what can I 
expect of her! ” he reflected. He said, “Mary, it’s 
a shame to tie you to this.” 

When he rode off she looked after him until he had 
disappeared. She wanted to act: she hated to go in 
and shut herself away from the free water and the 
wild clouds. The house was dark and very quiet, 
and Frogen came plodding along close to her feet as 
she w'ent back to the window. There she sat a while, 
with her eyes fixed on the lights at the Crossed Keys. 
Now the water seemed to be singing praises. 

“ I was miserable when Father tramped about the 

[ 264 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 

country half drunk/' she thought. “ How must Dan 
feel? I wish marriage were not so long. What can 
I do for Dan? I don’t know what to try to do for 
any of them.” 

Across the road Louisa’s hostler whistled a tune 
as he waited for the stage; and when the horses 
trotted into view around the curve Louisa herself 
came out on the porch. There was a crowd of 
passengers. The driver got down from his high 
seat and assisted the women — a party of four, and 
another. Mary rose with a spring, and Frogen 
scrambled up to protect her. 

It was certainly Eva, rather nicely dressed. She 
walked directly to Louisa, who stood motionless 
watching her. The two exchanged a few words, then 
went together into the house. 

Now what will happen? ” Mary said aloud, 
rather breathless as one probable outcome after 
another rapidly occurred to her. 

They had occurred to Eva over and over again on 
her way to Middleport, but all that was far back in 
her mind at this important moment. She followed 
Louisa into the parlor, where the dance had been 
held. It was warm, and when the lamp was lighted 
a great many roses suddenly appeared, on the carp)et 
and the gay new wall-paper and the cushioned rock¬ 
ing-chairs. Eva looked about the room, and Louisa 
scrutinized her while waiting for her to speak. Al¬ 
though she was very thin she seemed to have plenty 
of energy, and moved lightly in her stylish shoes. 

[ 265 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


She had made the most of her curly hair, puffing 
it out under her hat; her face had become oddly 
immobile; her expression was tranquil. 

I suppose you’re surprised,” she said. Is my 
baby well? ” 

Your baby is beautiful.” 

Is he at Yost’s? ” 

^‘Oh, yes.” 

“ Is my father married? ” 

They will be married some time this spring.” 

When she turned homeward Eva had been very 
conscious that she knew none of the facts which were 
most important to her; she needed a moment or two 
now to get the full significance of what she had been 
told. 

“ I will go to Yost’s first,” she said. “ I’d like to 
hire your horse.” 

“ You must not try to go to Yost’s; the creek is too 
high. Don’t you hear it? ” 

‘‘ I’ll get there. Oh, how clean and nice this room 
looks! ” 

“ I doubt whether you could drive across the 
bridge. Didn’t you see anything of the flood on 
your way here? ” 

‘‘Yes. How are they all? How is my sister 
Helen? ” 

“ All well. Won’t you sit down? ” 

Seating herself on the edge of a chair, Eva looked 
expectantly at Louisa, who returned the look without 
aversion. 


[ 266 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Are you here alone? ’’ 

Yes.’’ 

“ She has courage enough to answer that without 
explanation,” thought Louisa. “ Why did you come? ” 
she asked. 

I am looking for work. You don’t know how glad 
I am to see someone who knows me.” 

She is not more than twenty. Can it be that she 
was homesick for Berks County? ” Louisa wondered. 

Don’t you think I am a good worker? ” Eva urged, 
softly. As if she knew that there must be some fault¬ 
finding, and were anxious to get it over, she went 
hastily on. I know what you think. I know. I 
had to go.” 

And now you want to go to Yost’s.” 

“ I am not a criminal. What sort of life had I 
among them? I went away, yes; but surely I can 
come back and live in this neighborhood, away from 
flashy people. I need not go on wandering about.” 

Louisa saw something beautiful, which had taken 
a long while to reach perfection, about to be destroyed; 
it was the happiness of Christiana, her best friend. 

I must say the right thing; I must not fail,” Louisa 
said to herself. George took it very hard,” she 
began, deliberately. 

Where was he that night? ” 

“ I don’t know. He never told me. I thought he 
would lose his mind surely. You would scarcely have 
recognized him. He did not go near Yost’s for weeks. 
He stayed here; and he has been very sick.” 

[267] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ He is at home now, isn’t he? I must have a talk 
with him. Nothing is settled.” 

“ George was away for years, but he never grew 
away from Yost’s, he never wanted to live anywhere 
else. He can do a day’s work now; and he is con¬ 
sidering some plans which will make the estate much 
more valuable for the boy.” 

Well?” 

“ You didn’t want to stay there; you left the place. 
Why should you go back? ” 

Why not? ” 

Why don’t you let those two alone, even if they 
have not treated you well? ” 

She is a horrible person.” 

Stay here and visit me a few days. I’ll help you 
to get a start. And I’ll bring your baby to see you 
tomorrow.” 

Tomorrow I am going to Mount Misery.” 

Very well. Go in the morning, and the baby will 
be here waiting for you.” 

The definiteness of the proposal was as soothing to 
Eva as Louisa’s calm manner. You are fair to me, 
and kind too. You always were,” she said. 

Come to supper; and think this over.” 

^‘No. I am going to Yost’s now; but —.” 

“ Think it over,” Louisa repeated. Nobody can 
prevent you if you decide to go to your husband. 
See the flood for yourself, and then come back here.” 

“ That may be all I can do,” Eva admitted to her¬ 
self as she went out. 


[268] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


The stormy noises surrounded her; the water with 
its confused outcry compelled her to listen while she 
walked along. Lamps had been lit in many of the 
houses; Middleport looked very small and plain; the 
whole length of the street was quiet and without life 
under the leafless trees. 

I expected that when they saw me they would be 
very angry and then glad. Louisa is not angry, but 
she would not employ me, she would not have me 
there. Was I foolish to come home? Eva thought. 

Oh, I am going to see my baby! Will he know 
me? ” 

Suddenly she heard someone following her. She 
stopped in the light from the post-office windows and 
looked back. She began walking more quickly to 
escape, but Mary came up with her eyes sparkling. 

Good-evening,^’ she said, pleasantly. 

Good-evening.” Eva hurried on. 

Mary kept beside her, and noted the altered quality 
of her beauty and her sophisticated composure. 

You can’t go far in this direction,” she remarked. 

I know all about the flood. Louisa told me.” 

From a distance Mary had watched the life they 
were leading at Yost’s, in their sunny rooms and fields, 
as the winter drew to an end; and she had no more 
part in it than she had in Paradise, but she would do 
all she could to keep it unspoiled. Now it was in 
Eva’s two hard hands. Not doubting for a moment 
that if George saw her he would go with her, Mary 
longed to hold her back by force; but even before 

[ 269 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


she came flying out of her house she realized that the 
most she could do was to delay the wanderer and 
hope that something fortunate would happen. 

“ Are you going to Yost’s? ” she began. 

What does this little thing know? What has she 
been about? ” Eva thought. She looked down search- 
ingly at her companion, and replied, “ Of course I 
am going to Yost’s.” 

Please don’t try it. The water is higher than you 
would think; it’s very dangerous.” 

You have a great idea of the mischief I can do.” 

Eva laughed; and Mary felt that she was made to 
appear futile not only in what she was now trying to 
prevent but in her whole life. Eva is not impressive, 
she is a nuisance,” she said to herself; and she kept 
patient. “You-know how it went before,” she said. 
“ You hated it. If you go back it will not be any 
better.” 

“ Does my father know how interested you are? ” 

“ You think I am speaking on my own account.” 
Mary’s voice became more than usually clear as she 
went ahead. She was in a blaze. “ I owe you no 
grudge at all. My future was determined before you 
were ever seen in Middleport.” 

“ Take care. I may come to Mount Misery.” 

They walked on side by side through dark spaces 
and patches of yellow light. Mary did not answer. 
The name of Mount Misery recalled Dan’s decision, 
and she was thinking, “ Where in the world can Eva 
go? To what kind of place? I didn’t realize that 

[ 270 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


until now.’’ It was an impelling thought to a warm¬ 
hearted woman; and her quick anger began to die 
down as she perceived how completely Eva, who had 
been the heart of things to all who loved her, was now 
shut out, barred out. 

“ Mustn’t I go to Mount Misery either? You are 
my father’s girl, aren’t you? ” Eva hoped this would 
be enough to drive Mary away. 

Don’t go on tonight, don’t! ” Mary said, taking 
hold of Eva’s arm in her eagerness. 

You must be out of your mind.” 

“ Come home with me. I’ll make you comfortable.” 

Mary, please let me alone. I don’t want to 
quarrel with you. I’m sorry I’ve hurt you.” 

Is that from Eva? ” Mary thought. This self- 
possessed, concise bitterness and Eva’s altered looks 
must have the same cause, something that had been 
very hard and lonely to go through. The last few 
months, which brought all that about, had not been 
triumphant and gay. You can stay with me as long 
as you like,” she said. 

Eva sharply demanded, '' Did my father say I 
couldn’t come home? ” 

He looked for you everywhere.” 

Recalling that Louisa had seemed to expect her not 
to remain at Mount Misery, Eva understood what was 
implied without another question. 

My father — to protect my little sister — will 
not have me at home.” Not at home, where she had 
been invaluable — to protect her sister, who had 

[ 271 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


adored her. “ So now I am nothing at Mount Misery. 
It can^t be true. Yes, it may be.” 

The impulse to accuse Mary and not to believe her 
passed away; Eva felt sure that what she had guessed 
was true because it was so of a piece with everything 
else. The fact that her father would not shelter her 
was an overwhelming thing; she had taken it for 
granted that his love she would always have. She 
wanted to see his kind eyes. 

She is far more lonesome than I have ever been,” 
Mary thought. ‘‘Won’t you come? ” she besought. 

Eva went steadily on. After one more brief appeal 
which received no notice, Mary quietly desisted. She 
stood still, looking after the figure that disappeared 
down the dark street. 

“ Let her go to Yost’s if she can get there. Let her 
have that satisfaction. There may be no harm done.” 

They had reached the end of the town. In a 
minute the few lights were behind Eva, and she was 
on the open road. It stretched ahead, deserted, 
silent, and almost impassable with slush and mud. 
Out there night had not yet come; dusk was at the 
point where all the remaining light seemed to be 
absorbed by the sky, and a faint brightness spread 
over its white, soft surface. Clouds obliterated the 
top of the Blue Mountain, to which there was no end, 
as it disappeared in mist. The fields Vv^ere almost 
dark. 

“ Now I must go to Yost’s,” Eva thought. “ I can’t 
go back: I wouldn’t if I could.” 

[ 272 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


What she had set out to do was hard; but the 
natures she had now to deal with were well known 
to her. That made it easier; and she was not sorry 
to be picking her way along the familiar road.^ It had 
been so unbearable everywhere while she was away —• 
strange, unpleasant scenes, strange ways and faces. 
She had had to move about a good deal, but her 
lodgings had invariably been such that she was not 
sure whether she were looking at dinginess or real 
dirt. In her life with Beneval, whose interests were 
horses and cards, there had been nothing dazzling. 
None of the men with whom she was thrown seemed 
as if they were important in any locality, and the 
women made themselves bloom with paint. They all 
called her by BenevaPs name; she knew that while 
they thought her pretty enough she appeared very 
dull among them. 

“ When I lived at Yost’s I felt so bitter.” 

Beneval had never said he loved her: that had been 
implied. He had said that if she went with him a 
divorce would be forthcoming, and they could be 
married. She had waited for that to happen. His 
occasional hours of courting were worth watching for, 
and she learned to comply that he might not cease to 
sue. When he looked at her she felt like an apple 
about to fall. She had finally questioned him and had 
been told that a long time must pass before anything 
could be done about their future, and she discovered 
that he thought her ridiculous in not getting along 
with Christiana. Only two nights had gone by since 

[ 273 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


she threatened to leave him, after making up her mind 
for hours. He had answered that she had no choice; 
he was about to move again, and wanted no one 
depending on him. 

The unshaded gas-light and close air, his courteous 
way, and the sounds of the money he counted out 
for her, all came back together. She had tried her 
best to be as cool as he, but there had been one 
moment of outbreak. He had put an end to that. 

You have been with me longer than I expected.” 

She could not bear to think of it; neither could she 
stop thinking of it. 

‘‘He said that to me! And at the beginning I 
thought I might care for him. 

“ George loved me; George wanted me.” 

The air was not freezing but it penetrated. Though 
she got on as rapidly as she could through the mud, 
it seemed when she looked up at the great mountain 
^;all that she made no progress. She thought how 
strange it was to have so much earth and such a vast 
and beautiful sky as background for little, painful 
lives. Not far away the church stood out white 
against the empty fields. A horse and carriage were 
at the gate, and she felt a stir of hope, for they were 
from Yost^s, and if there were any luck left for her it 
would be to meet George there alone. 

She went quietly into the churchyard and waited 
near the west door, which was open. She half hoped 
to hear him sing. The dusk was too far advanced for 
colors to appear, but when someone came through 

[ 274 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


the darkness within the church and walked out toward 
her she recognized Christiana’s figure, with what 
looked like a roll of music in her hand. 

Christiana also saw who awaited her, and stopped. 
“ I expected this, but not so soon,” she thought. 

There was a pause, filled with the noise of the 
freshet. Christiana had heard it all day, as she did 
every year. For her it was the overture to spring. 
That afternoon while she watched the water coming 
up her terrace inch by inch, and the rush of little 
waves past the bare willows, she had said to herself 
that the flood was no surer to decline than happiness; 
but she had never looked at the stream and felt so 
happy: the last few months were the best of her 
whole life. • 

Good-evening,” she said, civilly, and walked on. 

Eva followed. Remembering how Beneval ridi-, 
culed her because she could not get on with her mother- 
in-law, she tried hard to speak in the right manner. 

Mrs. Stroh, will you tell me where George is? ” 

At home.” 

“ Shall I find him there now? ” 

“ He missed some of the music he wants for church 
tomorrow, and very likely he is still upstairs looking 
for it. I thought I could find it here,” Christiana 
answered, cheerfully. 

Can I cross the bridge? ” 

'' The water ran through my carriage. I’m going 
back by the lower road.” 

Christiana was saying to herself, It has come. 

[ 275 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


George is lost to me, and I can bear it. I can bear 
it! She had dreaded this so long that for the first 
few minutes after it really happened she felt intense 
elation. Now her heart was free: now for the first 
time in her life she could deal unhampered with an 
enemy. 

She knew exactly what she would do, but it was 
not yet quite time. After a polite pause she again 
walked away, and untied her hitching-strap. Eva, 
without a word, kept near her, standing about among 
the grave-stones. The air was beginning to be foggy, 
and the soaked earth looked gray-brown. 

Where did you come from? ” Christiana asked. 

Eva eagerly named her last halting-place. 

“ Did you come that long way alone? You have a 
cool head. Where is Beneval Gartman? ” 

“ I don’t know. We have parted.” 

He has thrown her over,” Christiana thought. 

And he has not told what I paid him not to tell. 
She would not be so humble if she could spread the 
story about Paul.” 

Eva said, I want to see George.” 

No doubt you will succeed. You are very lucky.” 

The hint in Christiana’s tone exposed a hope so 
private that Eva hardly admitted it to herself. ‘‘ I 
only want to arrange our affairs,” she said, indignantly. 

Christiana scarcely noticed this. Her thoughts were 
dwelling for a moment upon the meeting that would 
take place. She knew well what George’s suspense 
was, remembering what her own had been; she also 

[276] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


remembered her own strange, ignominious joy in 
Paul’s presence, which had lasted to the very end. 

If George did take me back would it be un¬ 
natural? ” Eva asked, as if the silence dragged it out 
of her. “ I was driven away.” 

Of course.” 

I know that it all looks dreadfully bad; but he may 
not be hard on me even now. He is as kind as he 
can be.” 

“ She does the most hateful things and then puts on 
injured airs,” Christiana thought. He wants to see 
you,” she remarked, carelessly. Why didn’t you 
wait a little longer? He would have followed you.” 

Followed me? ” 

“ Now she is delighted. I should be secure if she 
were out of the world, fcan it be possible that I 
have such a wish? ” Christiana, appalled, considered 
this. 

“ I’ll go to him,” Eva said. 

The time had arrived for Christiana to do what she 
meant to do. She proceeded, “ You need not put 
yourself into danger at the bridge.” 

To that manner Eva gave a response very quickly. 
“ I am coming to get my baby.” 

“ So that’s your weapon, as I expected? ” Christiana 
thought. It had seemed to her that beside her grown 
son she had also her little son back, in the rosy baby 
with reddish, curly hair. She said, '' You gave him 
to me.” 

The law gives him to me. I found out that.” 

[ 277 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


No judge would trust the child to you when he had 
been told what you are. Not to a woman leading your 
kind of life! I warn you, don’t come to Yost’s. I 
will not have you there. If you come you will be put 
off the place.” 

Eva walked out of the churchyard and turned west¬ 
ward. After a minute she heard the carriage move off 
in the other direction. There was not a living creature 
in sight. She went fast, using all her energy to get 
over the toilsome ground which sent up wet exhalations. 
The mountain, a little duskier than the sky, appeared 
to move along with her. 

‘‘ I would go to Yost’s now if the devil stood in 
the road.” 

She began rapidly to plan what she would do. It 
was a disadvantage that Christiana would reach home 
before she could get there. The best way would be to 
walk around the house, see which rooms were lighted, 
and guess where George was to be found; then she 
could go to him very quietly. How she would wait 
among the bushes and watch her chance to slip in, 
how softly she would step — it was almost as vivid as 
though she were already going through it. She thought 
how his face would change when he looked up and 
recognized her. 

‘‘ I am sure it has often seemed to him that he saw 
and touched me; and it was a day-dream: now this 
will be like a day-dream. It will be so good to be near 
him. I shall ask his pardon and offer him his freedom. 
I don’t think he will be hard. He was coming to find 

[ 278 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


me. Suppose he despises me? I have done him the 
very worst injury I could. I may get to him without 
being noticed, though there are many chances against 
it, and then he may despise me. How can he do 
otherwise? I have a great deal to fight against. If 
his mother sees me there will be a dreadful scene. And 
if there is a miracle and he forgives me, what shall we 
do then? We shall be where we were, precisely where 
we were before I ran away from Yost’s. I always 
run away.” 

She thought of their bickering at the Crossed Keys, 
and how they had drudged and been pinched for money. 
What she desired now was not at all less than what 
she had asked for vainly then. Presently another idea 
came into her mind, and she began to dwell on it. 
Yost’s satisfied George; the beautiful, stately place 
suited him well. No gap was there, the three genera¬ 
tions were together; it was complete. 

“ There is a great deal for him to lose. 

I am so tired.” 

A pungent freshness in the air increased, and before 
she expected it she found herself at the edge of the 
flood. She would not have recognized the Northkill. 
At this point it had spread out over the meadows, and 
grown so wide that the bridge appeared absurd, 
standing in the midst of a lake. The water looked 
deep. It was gray, reflecting the light from the sky, 
which seemed not to grow darker. Along the bed of 
the stream the flow was almost as fast as a man could 
run; the little waves turned from side to side and 

[ 279] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


broke as they sped; a white ice-block floated past, then 
some black rubbish. Here near the mountain the 
groaning sound was very loud. 

Where can I go? 

Not to Mount Misery; her place there had vanished. 
To stay a few days at the Crossed Keys would be 
nothing, even though she saw her husband and her 
baby. That would make it worse. And it had been 
success in life for her to marry George Stroh! She 
could go to some town, and find work and a room with 
a gas-light. 

Sighing because she was so tired, she looked slowly 
around. Here and there a few trees, bare and black, 
stood in the submerged fields; from the midst of the 
torrent rushing about the bridge rose a clump of naked 
white button-ball trees with branches flung wide. 
Large, grayish patches of foam had gathered where the 
water was quiet. An owl from the mountain flew by 
suddenly; she envied those broad wings. 

She could scarcely move; but she stepped forward, 
and set her foot in a shallow. It felt cold as ice. A 
little farther on she sank so deep in slippery mud that 
she was afraid she could not pull herself out. The 
uprights of the snake-fences protruding high above the 
water looked like a double row of great horns, and she 
kept carefully between them. Earth and sky appeared 
unnatural as she gazed across the glossy gray expanse 
which surrounded her. The water gave and yielded to 
her movements; there was no support anywhere; the 
distance to the bridge seemed endless. To urge her 

[ 280 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


limbs and push ahead against all that weight was the 
hardest thing she had ever done in her life. When at 
last, almost paralyzed with cold and with streams 
flowing from her clothing, she went up the incline of 
the bridge and supported herself against the stone wall 
along the side, she felt that the worst was over. She 
fancied that she could distinguish through the twilight 
the distant, dark mass of trees around the house 
at Yost’s. 

I can still choose.” 

The north wind was rising and blowing down from 
the black mountain; the vast cloud over the heavens 
had parted and become soft, floating clouds, touched 
with silver light from the unseen moon. Eva looked 
up at them. She was trembling; but suddenly she had 
forgotten the cold, and it was not a hard thing to lie 
down on the broad, low top of the wall. As she lay 
she could glance over the edge and see that the deep 
hole was under her, where so many spots of foam were 
running by. Feeling a desire to pray, she folded her 
hands. Then she turned over and went to sleep. 


[ 281 ] 


CHAPTER XXVI 


O N EASTER afternoon Christiana and Louisa 
walked about in the sunshine inspecting the 
shrubs, and felt warm in their silk dresses. The burn¬ 
ing-bush near the Georgian doorway was full of flowers 
with petals like red shells; tiny, numberless blossoms 
transformed the black-currant bushes into golden 
clouds with a heavenly fragrance. Neither the brown 
thrasher in the tree-top nor the redwing in the meadow 
could silence the wren. Down in the marshy places 
along the creek the little frogs were singing in chorus, 
on and on, to please themselves. Across ploughed 
fields and fields where the young oats were beginning 
to look green moved the shadows of clouds drifting up 
from the south and the pearl-colored horizon. 

Christiana finished what she had to say: “ So Eva 
went one way and I went the other.” 

After one sharp glance at her Louisa looked 
elsewhere. 

It was good of you to come today.” 

“ I was here before, twice. Did you know it? ” 
Louisa answered, glad to fill up the pause with some¬ 
thing unimportant. Once you were sleeping off a 
headache, and once you had gone to Reading.” 


[ 282 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ That is the only time I have been away from 
home since that evening.’^ 

“ I thought you would like to talk it over with me 
after a while.Louisa drew a lilac twig toward her, 
examined the leaf-buds, and released it. You told 
Eva you would drive her off the place? ” 

I did.^’ 

Would you have carried that out? ” 

“ Yes.’^ 

There was another pause. Christiana had decided 
that she could not do without Louisa any longer, no 
matter what criticism she might have to meet. Now 
she cried out, “ You don’t know all of it.” 

“ Well? ” 

“ That evening I sat and darned old table-cloths. 
They were almost too old to mend.” 

“ Mary sat alone embroidering; and I sat alone 
knitting, and pitying you from the bottom of my 
heart,” thought Louisa. 

“ George practiced an hour or more, hymns for that 
Sunday. There was something in his singing — I 
tell you it drove me wild! I knew he would go with 
her. I listened every minute for steps at the door, 
and her voice. I have gone through some awful 
waiting. When she didn’t come I hoped she had died. 
I understood it with myself that I wished for her 
death. I never grudged life to anyone before, although 
I have had reason. It lowered me; she brought me 
to that. I had no expectation that she would die, 


[ 283 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


but I kept on wishing for it the next morning while 
I sat in church.” 

You think she killed herself, don^t you?! ” 

Yes.” 

After you spoke to her she — ? ” 

''What I said I don’t regret, for all her wicked 
foolishness. I have been expected to stand aside 
forever while others took what they desired. That 
had to end. Coming out of church we heard that 
some little boys had found a woman in your meadow 
where the flood had left her; and George went on the 
run. Of course he thought it was one of the neighbors 
who had been caught somehow by the water, but I 
was all but sure at once that it was Eva. I had been 
thinking only how good it would be if she died. I 
didn’t put things together until he left me standing 
there in the churchyard; then I saw that when he 
knew I had met her, and what I said to her, he would 
hate me through and through.” 

" Well?” 

" I felt thaf if the dead woman were Eva I must 
know instantly how it was to be between him and me. 
I drove home fast; and I went upstairs and shut my 
door, but I couldn’t help hearing what the girls said 
when they came rushing back from church. What I 
dreaded so, the waiting to see what he would do to 
me, began then. 

" He went straight to his room when he got home, 
and locked himself in. I stayed where I was. I 
thought he could avoid me or find me. A couple of 

[ 284 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


hours went before I heard his step again, and it seemed 
that he was going to pass me by, but he did not. He 
had very little to say. He was determined to find 
out what brought Eva here, and how she came to die, 
and whether she had been ill-treated; he was going 
away as soon as he had buried her. Of course he 
meant that he was going in pursuit of Beneval 
Gartman.^' 

Louisa listened, her eyes fixed upon Christiana with 
an intent and authoritative look. 

I wanted to say at once that he needn’t go, 
because I could tell him all that. You don’t know 
how I wanted to settle it between us quickly; but I 
kept quiet.” 

Why did you? ” 

“ Because I couldn’t look at his face and utter what 
would make him more wretched still. Could I say 
to him, ‘ Eva was cast off. She was coming to take 
your son away. She killed herself ’? I would have 
told him if the right time had come, but —.” 

'‘What has happened to you, Christiana? ” 

"I don’t know. He has never mentioned Eva to 
me since, not once.” 

" What? What an unnatural thing! ” 

" He has not hinted that I met her, although I 
am sure he knows; and he has said nothing more about 
going away. I don’t know what occurred that 
Sunday. How should I know? Should I hear it 
from strangers? ” 

" I’ll tell vou.” Louisa proceeded as if she were 

[ 285 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


very anxious to get through with it. “ When the little 
boys came running I went myself, with three or four 
men who were about, to that ridge where my meadow 
joins the wheatfield. I saw Eva before they touched 
her. She lay like a long stone, in shallow water that 
just covered the winter wheat. I told them to bring 
her to my house; and they were carrying her along 
the road when George came tearing up, and met her 
face to face. He cried out, ‘ She isn’t gone! ’ ” 
Christiana wrung her hands. 

“ He had courage. He seemed to think there was 
some hope, and he had the doctor there in five minutes. 
He saw her comfortable in their old room, in a beau¬ 
tiful night-gown of Mary’s, with her curls almost 
dry, before he started for Mount Misery. He met 
Dan riding into Middleport, knowing nothing of what 
had happened. Dan came to me; and I persuaded 
him to leave Eva with me.” 

Louisa hesitated. In her pity for her old friend 
she half expected that Christiana would show a little 
pity for him. 

What about George? ” 

When he returned from Yost’s I made him sit 
down in the parlor and eat something. It was late 
then — about sunset. I think he fully realized that 
Eva was dead, and it gave him great energy. He was 
determined to go away.” 

“ Do you know why he didn’t go? ” 

Because I told him what he wanted to know.” 

You did? ” 

[286] 


I 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


I am glad, Christiana, that I have a different idea 
from yours about Eva and what happened that night. 
I talked with her before she started for Yost’s. She 
came to see George and the baby; she said nothing to 
me about taking the baby away. She was certainly 
alone — it was a satisfaction to George to know that 
— and she did not look poor or despairing. I told 
him I had urged her to visit me, and he was grateful. 
Since it was almost dark when she left my house, 
the night must have come down on her by the time 
she reached the bridge, and with the flood so loud 
and confusing it would have been easy to wander off 
the road into deep water.” 

Don’t you believe that Beneval discarded her 
either? ” 

“ There is fully as much reason to think that she 
left him. Didn’t she tell you she had? ” 

After you had satisfied George, what did he do? ” 
He went to Eva and stayed a long time.” 

“ The day of the funeral he made no sign,” Christiana 
said, in a suppressed voice. “ I saw the hearse and 
two carriages going along the Blue Mountain road. 
Where did they bury her? ” 

Louisa named the place absently, as though pre¬ 
occupied with recollections. '' The grave-yard is 
neglected; she lies beside her mother. The drive 
seemed long over the hills, but it was a sweet day, 
the sun came out so bright.” 

Does she see nothing wrong in Eva? ” Christiana 
thought; and she tried hard to show no bitterness 

[ 287 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


about the part her friend had played. 

I must be going now/^ Louisa said. 

As they went cheerlessly toward the gate she 
thought, '' How I wish Christiana had not put herself 
in the wrong! But it is done.” She comprehended 
that her companion had been struggling for a long 
time in ways which she herself knew not at all; she 
grew conscious of supreme possibilities in life which 
were unknown to her. If I think much about this 
I can't rest contented at the Crossed Keys,” she 
reflected. Then she passed beyond all that, under¬ 
standing that a precious intimacy was nearly lost. 

Christiana,” she said, tenderly. You and I 
must keep together. No one else can remember what 
we can.” 

“ Louisa, it is dreadful how children can hurt us! ” 
His affection has been the treasure of her life. 
Has she killed it herself? ” Louisa thought. She 
ventured to say, ‘‘You have him with you.” 

“ He is not with me.” Christiana paused, then 
went on with goaded animation. “ Sometimes I 
pretend that all this is not real, and that I am back 
in the past again, and happy. I pretend, you see, to 
have been happy; but I have never had anything, 
really. All that seemed to be mine slipped through 
my fingers.” 

“ Is even her youth spoiled for her? ” Louisa 
wondered, appalled. Again in need of the common¬ 
place, she asked “ Where is George now? ” 

“ Away somewhere, perhaps at Mary's,” Christiana 

[ 288 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


said. She seemed too listless to speak connectedly. 

There is more that I should know. He has some 
plan, I’m sure. He will never be satisfied, not until 
his way is clear to Beneval Gartman. Oh, Louisa, 
what I thought I could not bear one hour I have had 
to bear all this time — the waiting to see what he 
would do to me.” 

They walked on side by side. The idea passed 
through Louisa’s mind that from the lilac-bush to the 
flag-stone path was a short distance, but in it she and 
Christiana had gone through much. 

It will be easier, now that I have told you,” 
Christiana said, when they were taking leave of each 
other. I know I must keep on waiting.” 

Louisa drove away. At the first curve in the road 
she looked back. A figure in gray was moving slowly 
between the flowery bushes toward the open door. 
Louisa had never so thoroughly understood pain to 
be an integral part of life, and she was sorry for all 
the living. 


[ 289] 


CHAPTER XXVII 


W HEN Louisa reached home she stood on the 
front porch for some time, and looked across 
the way, but she could see nothing of Mary at any 
window. She felt anxious about her Mary, who 
had been a little surprising lately. Quite suddenly 
she had gone off to Philadelphia, to a cousin whom 
she had never visited before; and she had stayed 
away for weeks, coming back on Good Friday with 
some rather extravagant clothes. Louisa said to 
herself, without much connection, that it would not 
be at all like Mary to decline now to marry Dan, 
but love was as unstable as the misty, delicately 
colored clouds. After that conclusion she began to 
feel placid. A breeze caused a great deal of dancing 
among the young leaves and little shadows; the 
sunshine was almost silvery on the mountain-side; up 
there the chewinks were calling; the ridge seemed 
not a barrier but a guide to some beautiful place. 

A horse cantered into view, and she discerned that 
the rider was Dan himself. What he had before him 
should not be delayed by any third person, she thought, 
and she disappeared instantly into the house. 

Mary heard him; she had been listening for him, 
with a rather rapidly beating heart. On the dreadful 

[ 290] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Sunday morning when she ran to get away from the 
crowd out in the road she had locked herself into a 
shabby, melancholy room. Now the same room was 
airy, full of soft shadows, and everything was shining. 
Fresh curtains waved in the south wind; a sunbeam 
fell across a glass pitcher in which some scarlet 
tulips spread their polished petals wide. A little 
table was festively arranged with more red tulips, a 
bottle of wine, and a tall, smooth, white cake, such a 
cake as had never been seen in Middleport; in Phila¬ 
delphia the recipe was a novelty. On the piano lay a 
spring hat, green, with a wreath of rose-leaves and 
dark red berries; it had been purchased in a mood of 
reckless gaiety, to wear with her new summer silk, 
which was finely checked garnet and silver gray. 

Dan walked in quickly. He was' much better 
dressed than usual, and looked large; he had the air 
of having attained a definite point, but she did not 
know what point. Since seeing him last she had 
pictured him in a number of ways, but none so impres¬ 
sive as this. She did not feel well acquainted with 
him. 

Did you have a good time? ” 

I had a lovely time.’’ 

He gazed at her as if he could never see enough of 
her. Evidently he did not mean to say anything more, 
so she began talking rapidly and telling him all about 
it, what she had seen, much about the pleasant cousin 
and her children. 

‘^And I bought a few clothes,” she said, happily. 

[ 291 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


I made a rule not to buy at first sight. I had to do 
that, for every time I went down town I saw something 
I wanted dreadfully.’’ 

She was afraid he disapproved of her for laying 
aside her black, and she wished he would say her 
new dress was pretty; but he seemed to think that a 
genial expression was enough, and she w^ent on 
talking. This time a concert was her subject. 

“ The wind through bare branches, — the ’cello 
was like that. When the bows moved all together I 
thought of saplings bending their tops.” 

With that kind of idea she impressed Dan as more 
exquisite than ever. The clearest thing to him about 
this concert was that she had not said who went 
with her. 

A silence drew itself out to great lengths before 
Mary tried again. With more and more vivacity she 
told him that she had gone to the theatre twice. 

And when the curtain went down I hardly knew 
where I was.” 

Dan said he was glad she had enjoyed it. He made 
some other observation; and they kept on talking, 
with very little interest, for what seemed a long 
while. There came a depressing pause; she found 
him looking at her hard. 

“ Mary, this is Easter.” 

From her lovable, downcast eyes to her little feet 
she appeared as reserved as a mimosa-leaf closed at 
a touch. 

“ Don’t you want to live with me? ” 

[ 292 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Though several replies occurred to her she made 
none of them. 

I know my position is far from brilliant; there is 
nothing great ahead. You must not make a mistake,” 
he said. 

He speaks of it as still open, even as though it 
were still open on his side,” she thought, in the midst 
of her surprise. 

“ This looks like No.” 

I don’t know what to do,” she said to herself. 
“ Why do you say these things? ” she composedly 
inquired. 

Dan was certain now that while it was impossible 
to admit the facts he must act upon them. He 
answered, harshly, I made up my mind after you 
went away that I would give you a chance. You 
want to be free, don’t you? ” 

“And I was willing! I had come to that point! ” 
Mary thought, with rage. 

She kept a serene face as she drew off her little 
amethyst ring, laid it on the table, and folded her 
hands again in her lap. 

Both felt as though there had been a terrific crash 
in the room; they did not know where to look, and 
found themselves mournfully regarding each other. 
This continued for some time. 

When she felt obliged to put an end to it Mary 
walked over to the piano, and said, stiffly, “ Do you 
like my hat? ” 

She did not pick up the green hat. There was a 

[ 293 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


present for Dan under it, a pair of cuff-buttons in a 
white box; now he would never wear them. Her 
cousin had invited her to visit there again, with Dan, 
on their wedding-trip. There recurred to her mind 
several things she had planned to do, with Dan, at 
Mount Misery, in the evenings. 

When he stood up, saying nothing but her name, 
she moved away so that he should not see her face. 
Not that there were any tears for him to see. After 
a moment she bravely glanced at him; he looked 
forsaken. He raised her hand to his lips and 
released it. 

“Oh, you thought of George Stroh! I did care 
for him for a long while; but he always yielded, and 
I hated that. When I was with you I felt so safe. 
I changed little by little. Until Eva came back I 
was bitter; then it seemed as if something stubborn 
in me let go; and that ended it. What I felt after¬ 
ward v/as for you alone. It was indeed. I couldn’t 
depend on myself, so I went away; and I was so 
glad to get home. ‘ I am going to marry Dan,’ I 
said to myself. I knew it was the one thing for me 
to do. Do you understand? ” 

“ Am I the man you care for? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Can you be satisfied at Mount Misery, with an 
old has-been? ” 

“ You are a real man. I missed you so! ” 

“ Oh, Mary, Mary, I will take good care of you! ” 
“ Then you didn’t want to break it off? ” 

[ 294 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ Not I. I thouglit you did. After you went 
away everything was wrong. I got to thinking; it 
was more than I could stand. Well, we know now. 
If after this we doubt each other and trifle away our 
happiness we don’t deserve it. Mary, you wouldn’t 
have your ring, would you? Put it on.” 

He kept her hand with a teasing grip; he looked 
young. 

Anxious to avoid too much emotion, she said, “ Shall 
we take a walk now? ” 

He laughed at that. When will you come? ” he 
demanded. The date to which he finally agreed was 
only two weeks away. 

After it was all settled Mary at last lifted the green 
hat. She was glad, as he admired the cuff-buttons, 
that there she had been really extravagant. They 
went into his safest pocket; and he thought, “ With 
her little bit of money, that she earned with her own 
fingers! ” 

Now will you go out on the hill? ” she asked, 
joyously. 

Yes. Will it hurt that beautiful dress? ” 

In the street everything was pleasant. Children 
lagged on their way home from Sunday-school, young 
people were out; many Easter hats and dresses could 
be seen under the horse-chestnuts. The neighbors 
gave Dan and Mary friendly smiles without curiosity, 
their engagement having been known to everybody for 
a long time. There was no more making talk; they 
did not say much as they walked past the school-house 

[ 295 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


and out of town, and followed a grassy lane which 
went winding between fields and up the mountain. 
Here the woodpecker darted, and the jay and the 
little finch, white and red and blue and yellow. The 
clouds were rising from the south over the remote 
blue, and Mary’s eyes were allured farther and farther 
among the soft depths full of pearl-tinted light. 

Dan said, Mary, I am glad you were the last 
person Eva saw. The last voice she heard was 
yours.’’ 

“ If I could have known that death was near, 
perhaps in the same hour when we were walking 
together! ” she gently answered. Why did I ever 
tell Eva? Oh, I wish I had nothing to conceal from 
him,” she said to herself, with a sharp sense of imper¬ 
fection. ‘‘ But if he knew, it would be a sorrow to 
him all his life.” 

What he had thought innumerable times he was 
thinking now: “If Eva heard that I would not let 
her come home, that was what drove her into the water. 
There in the dark, all alone, she had a crying-fit, 
and then —. Now I know where she is,” he said. 
“Mary, her awful last moments! ” 

Mary seized his hand and held it tight, keeping her 
eyes on the ground. 

“ Something was lost when she left the world,” he 
continued, with pride. “ Up to the very last she did 
as she chose.” He added, slowly, “ It would have 
been hard for her to grow old.” 

Presently he said, “ I want to tell you, Mary, while 

[ 296 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


you were away I went to Reading, and I hung around 
livery-stables and engine-houses and bar-rooms. 
Nobody could say where Gartman was. He seems to 
have dropped out. But half a dozen fellows, stock- 
dealers and horsemen, who move about constantly in 
the way of their business, offered to trail him. He is 
not exactly popular. There are three who are sure 
they can get him.’^ 

Then what will you do? ’’ 

Go after him on the first train. I want to come 
as near killing him as I can.^’ 

Was there no clue in Eva’s bag? ” 

“ Very likely. There might be an envelope with 
a hotel letter-head, or an address printed on paper 
that she got at a dry-goods or millinery store. That 
would be enough. It isn’t likely that he covered his 
tracks very long. But Louisa is stubborn about the 
bag: she says it belongs to George. Either he should 
have settled with Gartman or he should have had 
nothing to do with Eva, living or dead.” 

They had reached a high point. On one side the 
mountain rose steep and rocky, on the other it fell 
away. In the tranquil sunlight the cedars looked like 
green velvet with a gold bloom, and the shadows were 
soft on their trunks. Here and there appeared the 
bluish green of the ghostly juniper. Under them 
grew mosses, delicate little vines, some fern-shoots 
like furry interrogation-points, and patches of arbutus 
full of rosy stars. 


[ 297 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


“ I want some of these. No, I’ll get them,” Mary 
said, primly. 

Dan offered his knife, and she took it though she 
did not need it at all; and she left him leaning against 
a tree, so still that a bird flew down to an ant-hill 
not twenty feet away. She needed a little solitude 
for her mind. Every way she looked there was 
something to make her happier. She had no petty . 
doubts of Dan; and while there would still be dif¬ 
ficulties in life she felt in quite a new relation to them. 
As to her fear of the future, and of being lonely and 
not useful to anybody, that was over. As the odors 
of the flowers and of the sweet earth came up into 
her face joy mounted in her like a wave. 

Memories I do not share have helped to make you 
what you are; but I am not jealous,” she thought, as 
she went back to Dan. 

He watched her coming with her arbutus in her 
hand, and what she felt was reflected in his face. 

What are you thinking of? ” she asked. 

“ The years to come. Are you happy? ” 

Very happy. Are you? ” 

Yes.” 

Along the mountain-side a horse’s trot could be 
heard a long way off. George, riding his tall bay, 
came in sight between the trees. He looked lean, 
and had a self-contained air which was new to him. 
Where did you come from? ” he hailed Mary. 

He questioned her about the concert, and wanted 


[ 298 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


to know what was going on in the city. I am glad 
I took this road,” he said. 

There was an unusual sound in his voice, a note 
of repression. Dan, in the background, glanced at 
him sharply, and thought, Has he located 
Gartman? ” 

George.” Suddenly Mary went and stood close 
to his horse. The sunshine made her pretty dress 
lustrous, and lay across her face as she looked up. 

A week from Saturday. Will you come? ” 

Is that to be the day? ” George asked, looking 
from one to the other. 

“ It will be very quiet. You will come? ” 

He was unmistakably glad, and congratulated them 
so warmly that it was difficult to know whether or not 
he promised to be at the wedding. 

Goodbye,” he repeated, over his shoulder, as he 
moved away. ‘‘ Isn’t this Easter weather? ” 

Mary stood still where she' was, in absorption, 
gazing far into the woodland. “ How everything has 
changed! ” she thought. “I am so happy; but poor 
George! — I am afraid Aunt Louisa will be lonely, 
with strangers living opposite,” she said to Dan. 

“ We’ll persuade her to visit us often. I’ve made 
you walk too far. You will be tired. Shall we go 
home now? ” 

Coming to join him, she let him know by her 
unclouded look that she turned away from all the rest 
of the world. 


[299] 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


S HE rode away George said to himself that 



r\ Mary was a dear little woman; after that he 
thought no more about her. He let his horse walk, 
and kept looking at the hazy views between the 
cedars. He had been riding aimlessly like this for 
hours. Before the day was over a decision he had 
put off too long should be made. He still hoped for 
light, though there seemed to be none. 

He arrived at the Crossed Keys after a while, and 
found Louisa reading a newspaper at the parlor 
window. In receiving him she displayed a calm and 
neutral manner. 

“Aunt Louisa, will you invite me to supper? And 
I want to see Eva’s bag.” 

“ I don’t know where he keeps his feelings; he 
certainly doesn’t show them,” Louisa thought. “ I’ll 
be glad to have you stay to supper,” she admitted. 
“ The bag is in your room. Eva left her purse with 
me, with the key in it. I’ll get it.” 

The purse, a little pouch made of olive-green velvet 
with silk cord and tassels, was quite new; George 
thrust it away in his pocket. He hurried upstairs, 
opened the familiar door, went in, and locked it, 
keeping his back toward the bed. 


[300] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


There was not much light in the room, the shades 
having been partly drawn at both windows, which 
faced the east. The red and blue stripes in the rag- 
carpet appeared dull. Everything was neat. Nothing 
on the walls except a wooden clothes-rack with china 
knobs, and on the bureau a crocheted cotton mat. 
George brought Eva^s travelling-bag out of the closet, 
and opened her purse; beside the key he saw a 
headache powder, some change and seven dollars. 

Gartman didn’t do so much better by her than 
I did. Now I have waited long enough. I will 
decide this; and reasonably, not by what I feel or 
guess at.” 

He sat down squarely in a straight chair. 

“ When I told Mother that Sunday that I was 
going away the one desire I had left was to settle 
with Gartman. I felt no shrinking.” 

He fixed his eyes on the white, flat bed with four 
brown cork-screw posts. On the Sunday afternoon 
when he shut himself in with Eva it had looked too 
cold for her to lie there. That he must have had 
some hope, even until then, had become evident when 
there was no more room for hope. He had felt as 
though fingers were working their way around his 
heart. 

“ But I was not crazy. Not then, nor at any time.” 

The linen that concealed her he had drawn away; 
there she lay among her curls. No terror at all was 
in her face; it wore a lovely look; and although 
immobile and not roseate she had not seemed cold. 

[301 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Her eyes were thoughtful; she might have closed 
them while considering some plan for him, she was 
so gracious. 

“ And I was to put her under the ground! ’’ 
Gradually it had become clear, perfectly clear, as 
he crouched beside her, that when she set out to come 
to him, death had not interrupted her journey, and she 
had come. Here were her own lips; and she herself 
was here too, with him. Her death made no dif¬ 
ference between them. That was certain, even though 
the beauty there before him was unfamiliar and 
unearthly, even though she now knew the everlasting. 

She seemed to say, ^ Don’t you know that I am 
with you? ’ I was blest then.” There was happiness 
now in going over and over it. 

Her bruises had confronted him. They were there 
because he had failed as a protector; and he was 
punished. But Gartman! The last time he himself 
had seen her alive, here in this room, she was driven 
and desperate, and that was Gartman’s doing. He 
would never know what she had been made to suffer. 
He had said to himself that Gartman had not long 
to live. 

If I kill him she will leave me. She will not tell 
me any more than that. If she goes away how shall 
I ever get her back? What shall I do? ” 

As he thought and thought, and the time passed 
resuitless, his body assumed a contorted posture and 
his face was tlirust far forward. 

“ I doubt that any jury will convict me. I may 

[302 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


not be able to get bail; that is the worst that is likely 
to happen. The boy is provided for in any case, and 
he will be glad his father acted as a man should. 
As to bringing disgrace on the family, Mother is the 
family. Mother met Eva when she had almost reached 
me, and said enough to break her heart. I know 
that. If Eva knew all that Gartman is responsible for 
she would not oppose me. I have not one thing that 
he has not spoiled. He began when we were children. 
For me to let him live is not decent. I am no man 
if I let him live, I am the worst kind of coward.’’ 

There before his glistening eyes was the bag. This 
was going to be easy. There would be something to 
indicate his enemy’s whereabouts, enough to start the 
detectives. Wherever Gartman was, he would follow. 
It would be well to arrange a quarrel in public. It 
seemed that the whole thing could be done at one 
sweep. 

“ The trigger should be a little stubborn. I want 
to watch that face of his turn to wax.” 

He opened the bag violently, and saw some white 
garments, and a mirror which had often been in 
Eva’s hand. 

If it had not been for him I might have had her 
with me all my life. I need her so.” 

But nothing tangible remained except her grave. 
About noon that day he had waited there, in the pale 
Easter sunshine; a scarlet tanager had poured out 
over and over his golden song. 

She came no nearer, though I stood and begged 

[303 ] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


her for a sign I could not mistake. There was a fog 
before my mind. Is it so different from earth there 
that she can tell me nothing more? If I could see 
her for one minute! Oh, dear, beautiful, blessed 
spirit, look down on me here on the ground! Maybe 
she is nowhere. I am alone. I shall never see her 
again.^^ 

He threw himself across the bed. The unavoidable 
years, how they would pass, slow, bitter and empty! 

“ Starving! That’s what it will be.” 

He felt rejected, lost and inexpressibly solitary. 
He opened his eyes and looked into the clay-colored 
dusk. 

Is this a delusion from the beginning, or truth? 
Shall I never have peace again after I kill Gartman? 
He goes free. Boasts, maybe. He ought to die. No. 
Not murder. But it is Gartman’s time. Otherwise 
I couldn’t do it. Each man’s time is fixed. But I 
say, ^ He is a law-breaker, let him perish.’ Then I 
break the law. I wouldn’t run. I swear I am not 
afraid. What then? I have touched what is sure 
and endless, what underlies all preaching and worship. 
I shall be cut off from that; I shall never know it 
again.” 

He was irresolute no longer. 

Slowly the hard beating of his heart quieted; his 
fists relaxed; he lay still. Peace came as easily and 
amply as breath. 

Eva! Are you here? ” 

He knew he did not see her with his bodily eyes; 

[304] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


but he could almost see her, radiant, with all storms 
and pain far behind her. Her loveliness was not at 
an end, her soul still was ardent. There would be 
no more separation. He understood her and was near 
to her as he had never been. 

“ To be free was the heart of all your desires; and 
you were kept in subjection all your life. You were 
mine at the last, weren’t you, sweet? That is the 
wonderful thing.” 

He lay quiet and felt happy. To be happy seemed 
natural. 




[305] 


CHAPTER XXIX 


S OME time after sunset he heard Louisa calling 
him. He had lain there a long while. It seemed 
that instead of continuing to fight a heavy current he 
had turned and was going with the stream. He stood 
up, closed Eva’s bag, and put it away where he had 
found it. 

At the foot of the stairs he met Louisa waiting, with 
a lamp in her hand. She still wore her silk gown 
protected by a white apron with lace ruffles, and she 
had on carbuncle earrings. She was afraid she had 
been gruff to George. 

“ You’re cold,” she said. Come and eat some¬ 
thing. In the parlor, it’s quieter.” 

“ Aunt Louisa, you look very fine.” 

Isn’t this Easter? And you haven’t been here 
for a long time.” 

Soft evening light came in through the south and 
west windows; the gilt roses on the walls and the red 
ones on the carpet bloomed unobtrusively. Louisa 
had decorated the table with black-current sprays in 
a white and gold vase shaped like a lily, and she 
moved it now to make room for her lamp. The glow 
on the white cloth and small yellow flowers was 
pleasant, George thought; everything he saw and 

[306] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


tasted seemed novel and pleasant. Louisa was cordial 
and made him comfortable without saying much. 
She hoped for a chance to smooth matters for 
Christiana. 

“ George is a man again, but so much older,she 
thought. How thin his face would look if it were 
not for that silky beard.’^ 

When supper was over he did not go, nor even 
move out of his chair, but clasped his hands behind 
his head and sat apparently contented, unconscious 
of her bright, kind eyes. She carried away the dishes 
and came back, and seated herself by the window; 
she too was contented. Wondering what she was to 
hear, whether about Beneval or Christiana, she 
waited, and watched the clouds. They were gray, 
with gold edges fading rapidly. 

Aunt Louisa,” he said, casually. “ The next 
time Dan Hain comes here, give him that bag. May¬ 
be Helen will want to use what is in it.” 

Very well.” 

What a coward I appear to her! ” George thought. 

Perhaps Gartman is already dead.” 

Louisa asked no questions, and felt considerably 
excited. George was impelled to confide a little, and 
she was the only being in whom he could confide. 

I am going away before long,” he remarked. 

You are? ” 

Yes. I have been considering various things,” he 
said, rather vaguely. For some months I have had 
it in my mind that I should like to study medicine.” 

[307] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Very much pleased at being told, Louisa replied, 
“ That will take a long time.’’ 

“ Several years.” He seemed about to forget her; 
then suddenly he turned all his attention to her. I’m 
going to Philadelphia in a week or so, to find out the 
best way to begin. Perhaps I ought to read with a 
preceptor this summer. In the fall I’ll go to the 
University. I think Father’s money will be almost 
enough to take me through; and I’ll find ways to 
earn more.” 

Louisa was astonished at the definiteness of these 
plans. She said, I didn’t know you wanted to be 
a doctor.” 

I’d like to do anything I can for our neighbors 
here who have it hard. I’m not aiming to improve 
their souls,” he declared, with something of a grin. 

But I might cure a few of their aches and pains.” 

“ Few ailments are really exciting to the doctor. 
It will be a great change for you.” 

“ It will. After wearing good clothes all my life, 
and driving good horses, and doing nothing but what 
I pleased, it is time I stood up to a job.” 

What about Yost’s? How will it go there without 
you? ” 

Better than now, I believe. Mother doesn’t 
need an overseer; and by the time she wants to stop 
working, the boy will be grown; he will know all 
her ways.” 

“ What! You are coming back, aren’t you? ” 

I can’t stay at Yost’s.” He stopped, with a look 

[308] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


entreating her to let that be enough on that subject. 

I’ll never own the place. If Mother wants the boy 
to have it I’ll not interfere with his choice. I’ll come 
back,” he said, with enthusiasm. “ I’ll come back 
to Middleport; but I want to make my own way.” 

And what about your mother? ” Louisa demanded. 

I haven’t told her yet. What has there been to 
say? I will tell her. I’ll do it tonight,” George 
answered, positively. 

“ He will make the right move toward her, and it 
will be only a form! ” Louisa thought. She was filled 
with regret. “ But he can’t warm to her at any appeal 
from me.” Without abruptness she said, What you 
have to forget — do try to forget it.” 

Mother is a great woman.” 

“ There is indeed nothing to say, it seems,” 
Louisa thought. But there is something to look for 
as time goes on.” 

And George still had everything before him, she 
reflected. She was stirred. “ I belong with Christiana. 
We have not so far to go, fewer hopes.” She wished 
for risks not to be found at the Crossed Keys. ‘‘ Well! 
If I had had such a son he would no doubt have left 
me by this time.” 

It seemed that George could not make up his mind 
to start for home; he went and stood at the south 
window. What had been established for him in the 
afternoon was like a background for his thoughts, and 
it was quite peaceful thinking. 


[309] 


THE HOUSE OF YOST 


Eva will not go far from me. I must earn my 
way to her. 

“ It may be only a dream; but let me keep it.’’ 

Louisa asked, You will not forget your music, will 
you? ” 

No. I mean to see my teacher.” 

‘‘ I wish you would make another song,” she 
suggested, with a sort of diffident tenderness. 

Perhaps I can.” 

It was all he had to say, even to himself, concern¬ 
ing one not too definite, glorious hope. He wanted to 
sing and sing, and harmonies and phrases had begun 
to come into his head. He was aching, but he could 
go on, tonight and then tomorrow. 


THE END 


[310] 


♦ 






/ 








•-i:, 


/ 


V 


t-;- .. 

''Vi.' 

'* • - / ■ 


M 




r i 


\ 


mar 



^ ^ ' 

























































































































































































































































































